lillUJOl 


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MARMADUKE 
P1CKTHALL 


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ERNEST  CARROLL  MOORE 


THE   HOUSE   OF  ISLAM 


THE  HOUSE 
OF  ISLAM 

BY 
MARMADUKE   PICKTHALL 


"Man  prays  for  Evil  as  he  prays  for 
Good,  for  man  is  unthinking." 

—ALCORAN. 


D.  APPLETON   AND   COMPANY 
NEW  YORK  MCMVI 


COPYRIGHT,  1906,  BY 
D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY 


Published  September,  1306 


TR 


THE     HOUSE     OF    ISLAM 


INTRODUCTION 

IN  the  reign  of  the  Sultan  Abdul  Mejid  Khan, 
upon  termination  of  the  war  with  Muscovy,  a  multi- 
tude of  faithful  Georgians  and  Circassians  chose  to 
cast  themselves,  their  women  and  children,  upon  the 
bounty  of  the  Padishah  rather  than  endure  the  yoke 
of  an  infidel  conqueror.  They  begged  but  leave  to 
settle  in  some  part  of  the  Sultan's  dominions,  to 
dwell  in  peace  among  true  believers  in  obedience 
to  the  law  of  God,  as  transmitted  to  Muhammed, 
His  Apostle.  But  their  spokesmen  had  fierce  eyes, 
and,  when  a  little  emphasis  seemed  called  for, 
each  clutched  quite  naturally  at  the  dagger  in  his 
sash. 

The  Sultan's  advisers — black-coated,  red-capped 
Othmanlis  of  the  eyes  that  see  but  never  look — noted 
this  slight  discrepancy  while  placidly  telling  their 
beads.  There  were  lawless  spots  in  the  empire.  On 
the  confines  of  Esh-Sham,  for  example,  the  peasants 
paid  tax  to  the  chiefs  of  the  desert  rather  than 


871512 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

to  the  lawful  tithe  farmer.  There  was  a  place 
with  work  in  the  world  for  men  both  loyal  and  war- 
like. 

The  Sultan  Abdul  Mejid  heard  those  exiles.  He 
clothed  them  in  the  mantle  of  his  grace.  Lands 
were  granted  in  a  far  province,  rights  and  privileges 
were  conferred  upon  them.  Letters  written  under 
the  Tughra  made  it  a  duty  for  all  men  to  do  them 
honor.  And  to  prevent  untoward  collision  with  the 
old  inhabitants,  one  Milhem  Bey,  a  native  of  that 
country,  was  appointed  to  overlook  the  settlement 
and  quell  the  disputes  which  were  sure  to  arise  at 
the  outset. 

Many  days  after  the  Circassians  had  set  sail  for 
their  new  land,  one  hot  afternoon,  this  Milhem  took 
boat  at  Tufana,  down  by  the  bridge,  and  went  to  visit 
his  brother,  a  young  doctor  of  the  religion,  who  dwelt 
by  the  shore  of  Asia.  As  his  caique  shot  forth  into 
the  strait,  the  coasts  of  Europe  opened  like  a  scroll. 
Fat  domes  and  slender  minarets  rose  up  white  from 
out  dark  cypress  groves  on  the  hill  of  Istanbul. 
Heaped  Ghalata  and  straggling  Pera  gathered 
beauty  as  their  forms  receded.  The  song  of  waters, 
with  the  pleasant  sense  of  gliding,  soothed  Milhem. 
He  closed  his  eyes  upon  the  shining  prospect,  while 
he  said  in  his  soul: 

2 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  It  is  well.  .  .  .  Yet  not  altogether  well. 
After  fifteen  years  of  obeisance,  now  at  last  I  am  lord 
of  something — a  small  thing,  but  earnest  of  more  to 
come.  That  is  good.  Praise  to  Allah,  I  am  blest  in 
that!  .  .  .  But  it  has  taken  long  to  reach  this  little 
eminence,  and  has  cost  me — Merciful  Allah! — how 
much  money !  My  patrimony  is  all  but  spent.  And 
this  post  is  not  worth  the  trouble  unless  as  a  step  to 
something  finer.  A  few  rock-scraping  fellahin,  a  few 
wild-beast  Circassians.  .  .  .  What  profit,  O  Lord, 
in  such  a  government  ?  After  six  months  or  eight  I 
shall  return.  Then,  it  may  be,  they  will  speak  to  me 
of  a  pashalik.  Where — Allah  pity! — can  I  touch 
the  price  of  a  pashalik?  Without  money  I  can  go 
no  farther.  If  Shems-ud-din,  my  brother,  will  not 
help  me,  I  must  borrow  of  the  infidel.  O  Shems-ud- 
din  !  O  my  soul !  Allah  knows  it  has  been  my  sin  to 
neglect  thee.  How  long  since  I  embraced  thee,  O 
my  dear!  " 

The  boat  came  to  land  at  a  point  where  a  huddle 
of  colored  dwellings  on  the  sea's  brink  and  a  mosque 
with  needle-pointed  minarets  cast  a  shimmer  on  the 
smooth  water.  Milhem  clambered  out  on  to  a  land- 
ing stage  and  started  to  climb  a  path  through  orchards 
which  led  to  his  brother's  house. 

The  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  sat  under  a  tree  enjoy- 

3 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ing  the  view,  across  the  strait,  of  the  imperial  city, 
when  he  was  struck  by  the  apparition  of  a  white  sun- 
shade slowly  bobbing  up  the  path  from  the  shore. 
Another  minute  and  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  crying, 
"Thanks  to  Allah!  "  With  eyes  alight,  he  ran  to 
kiss  his  brother. 

"  They  told  me  thou  wast  gone,"  he  said,  as  he 
led  him  to  the  carpet  under  the  tree.  "  But  my  heart 
informed  me  that  they  lied.  Thou  wouldst  never 
have  gone  without  my  peace  on  thee.  I  am  glad 
they  lied  who  told  me  thou  wast  gone." 

"  Of  a  surety  they  lied,"  chuckled  Milhem. 
"  Everyone  thought  I  should  travel  with  those  wild 
beasts.  Only  this  morning  one  of  the  greatest  called 
me  laggard  for  remaining  behind.  Hear  my  answer ! 
I  said :  '  O  my  lord,  had  I  journeyed  with  the  colo- 
nists, I  had  surely  been  a  party  to  their  quarrels  as 
they  arose.  With  your  Grace's  permission,  let  the 
quarrels  first  arise  that  I,  coming  as  a  stranger,  may 
judge  impartially  with  whom  the  right.  Moreover,' 
I  said,  '  may  it  please  your  Highness,  I  would  set  my 
house  in  order  ere  I  go.  And  your  Excellency's  self 
will  admit  that  the  city  Istana  is  mistress  of  more 
charm  than  the  desert  possesses.'  I  tell  thee,  he 
laughed,  that  great  one;  he  laughed  immoderately 
and  praised  my  understanding.  Men  begin  to  per- 

4 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ceive  that  Milhem  Bey  is  not  foolish.  In  sh'  Allah 
he  will  be  Milhem  Pasha  some  day." 

"  In  sh'  Allah !  "  echoed  Shems-ud-din  vaguely. 

"But  a  province  costs  much  money!"  sighed 
Milhem,  at  the  same  time  darting  a  sharp  glance  at 
his  brother's  face. 

The  stupid  had  not  heard.  There  he  sat,  finger- 
ing his  great  black  beard,  and  gazing  with  his  great 
brown  eyes,  full  and  wistful  as  a  gazelle's,  over  the 
cypress  tops  of  an  adjacent  cemetery,  over  the  blue 
strait,  to  the  crowding  minarets  of  the  city. 

"  Am  I  here  to  watch  thee  dreaming?  "  said  Mil- 
hem  tartly.  "  Art  in  love,  or  what  ails  thee?  " 

Shems-ud-din  turned  to  him  with  a  smile. 

"  Love,  saidst  thou  ?  I  have  not  loved  these 
many  days,  since  the  death  of  one  I  loved  truly.  She 
whom  I  have  now  is  but  for  appearance,  lest  neigh- 
bors should  deem  me  disreputable,  living  alone.  .  .  . 
I  do  but  think,  O  my  brother !  I  think,  by  Allah's 
leave,  I  go  with  thee." 

Milhem  flung  up  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven. 

"  What  a  fancy !  "  he  cried,  affrighted.  "  May 
Allah  heal  thee  of  it  quickly." 

"  Mock  me  not,  O  beloved!  "  pleaded  Shems-ud- 
din.  "  Whom  love  I  in  the  world  like  thee  ?  While 
thou  wast  absent  fighting  in  the  holy  wars,  had  my 

5 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

soul  peace?  And  since  then,  seeing  thee  so  seldom, 
have  I  been  content?  I  adjure  thee,  by  our  love  of 
old,  gainsay  me  not  in  this  matter!  " 

Launched  upon  a  favorite  theme,  he  continued 
in  this  strain  of  deep  affection  a  great  while. 

Milhem  answered  not  a  word.  Profoundly 
moved,  he  plucked  up  the  grass  near  him  by  the  roots, 
snuffling  to  keep  from  tears.  At  last,  able  to  bear  it 
no  longer,  he  rose  abruptly  and  took  his  leave  with 
broken  words  of  blessing  and  praise  to  God.  Not 
until  his  boat  danced  midway  across  the  path  of  dark- 
ening water,  and  the  minarets  of  the  sovereign  city, 
aloft  in  the  sunset,  seemed  spears  of  a  phantom  host 
uplifted,  threatening,  did  he  remember  his  purpose 
in  the  visit. 

On  the  morrow,  before  noon,  he  found  his  way 
to  the  street  of  sweet  odors,  where  Shems-ud-din  had 
a  shop  which  it  was  his  custom  to  visit  on  that  day  of 
each  week  for  the  purpose  of  taking  account  with  his 
steward.  This  morning  Shems-ud-din  was  not  alone. 
Two  old  men  sat  with  him  in  the  inner  gloom,  beyond 
where  a  group  of  women  chaffered  with  the  salesman. 
They  were  sheykhs  renowned  through  all  the  world 
for  their  learning  and  piety,  stern  foes  to  innovation, 
for  whom  a  time-serving  official  was  an  unclean 
beast. 

6 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Milhem  bowed  low  before  those  holy  ones,  and 
blessed  the  lucky  day. 

After  seats  had  been  resumed,  Shems-ud-din 
observed  : 

"  I  was  telling  these,  my  friends,  of  the  journey  I 
purpose  to  make.  And  they  have  honored  me  with  a 
mission.  .  .  ." 

But  Milhem  stopped  his  ears,  crying:  "Think 
not  of  it,  I  beseech  thee,  O  my  brother !  I  come  on 
purpose  to  restrain  thee.  With  the  permission  of 
these  reverend  ones,  thy  thought  to  go  with  me  is  not 
of  wisdom.  Does  a  man  right  to  quarrel  with  the 
part  allotted?  Behold  thee  here  in  great  honor,  with 
such  friends  about  thee ;  yet  not  content !  Thou  must 
needs  embark  upon  a  venture — very  perilous,  very 
tiresome — whereunto  no  one  calls  thee.  Do  not  so, 
O  my  brother,  for  the  sin  is  great!  " 

"  Once  upon  a  time  Eblis  himself  met  an  an- 
gel from  Allah,  and,  looking  earnestly  upon  his 
face,  observed,  '  Sin  not,  I  entreat  thee,'  "  said  one 
of  the  two  old  doctors  in  a  manner  of  abstruse 
meditation. 

Milhem  bit  his  lips.  He  said,  "  Who  am  I  to 
discuss  what  is  right  with  the  law's  exponents  ?  Yet, 
now  and  then,  in  my  chamber,  I  give  thought  to  these 
high  matters.  And  it  has  seemed,  to  my  little  under- 

7 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

standing,  a  sin  that  my  brother  should  wander  from  a 
road  so  clear  before  him." 

"  By  my  beard,  I  see  not  the  harm !  "  said  the 
sheykh  who  had  before  spoken.  "  Why  should  not 
our  friend,  the  learned  Shems-ud-din,  revisit  his  na- 
tive land,  a  land  of  true  belief?  In  sh'  Allah,  he  will 
enjoy  himself  there.  .  .  .  But  perhaps  our  lord  the 
Bey  would  go  alone.  Two  eyes  of  truth  fixed  con- 
stantly upon  him  embarrass  the  statesman." 

"  Which  is  only  to  say :  '  He  would  keep  his  mas- 
ter's counsel.'  Allah  witness,  I  have  no  desire  save 
for  my  brother's  welfare." 

"  That  is  known  for  certain,"  cried  Shems-ud-din 
heartily.  "  But  fear  not  for  me.  I  go  gladly." 

Milhem  shrugged  his  shoulders.  As  soon  as 
coffee  had  been  served  he  took  his  departure. 
Where  was  the  use  in  staying  longer?  These  dotards 
showed  no  intention  of  moving,  and  he  would  not 
mention  his  need  in  their  cold  hearing. 

At  a  later  hour  he  returned  that  way,  and,  seeing 
Shems-ud-din  alone  in  the  depths  of  the  shop,  ran  in 
and,  stooping,  kissed  the  hem  of  his  robe.  Through 
eagerness  to  convince,  he  magnified  his  want  a  hun- 
dredfold. By  Allah,  by  the  admirable  Koran,  he 
had  spent  all  his  inheritance — had  sown  it  rather, 
hoping  to  reap  a  rich  crop  of  honor.  His  last  para 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

had  gone  to  procure  this  beggarly  appointment  of 
governor  over  sundry  wild  beasts.  On  his  return,  if 
Allah  kept  him  alive,  he  would  have  the  offer  of  a 
wilayet.  Where  in  the  world  could  he  touch  the 
price  of  a  wilayet?  Rather  than  borrow  of  an  Ar- 
menian or  other  usurious  infidel,  he  would  beg  in  the 
gate  of  one  of  the  mosques;  he  had  not  yet  decided 
which.  He  was  in  the  hand  of  the  Almighty,  to 
whom  the  praise.  .  .  .  Three  hundred  thousand 
piasters  at  the  lowest.  .  .  .  Ma  sh'  Allah !  It  was 
too  much  to  ask  of  any  man !  .  .  . 

"  O  my  dear,  O  light  of  my  eyes,  O  my  breath  !  " 
cried  Shems-ud-dln,  when  he  could  speak  for  amaze- 
ment. '  Why  hast  thou  kept  silence?  Is  it  for  this 
thou  didst  shun  me  ?  Fie  on  thy  pride !  Thou  hast 
a  share  in  this  business,  as  in  all  belonging  to  me. 
Talk  not  of  begging  when  thou  hast  a  trade.  There 
is  but  little  now  in  my  hand;  but  to-morrow  or  the 
day  after  I  will  pay  thee  all  I  can  collect.  Of  the 
rest  we  will  speak  later.  Have  no  fear!  All  mine 
is  thine;  and,  by  the  blessing  of  Allah,  it  may  be  that 
my  patrimony  has  increased  while  thine  wasted." 

Milhem  wept  on  his  brother's  neck  and  called 
him  kindest  of  the  sons  of  Adam. 

"  By  my  life,  he  has  earned  the  right  to  bear  me 
company,"  he  murmured  as  he  went  his  way.  "  May 

9 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Allah  requite  him!  And  if,  in  such  close  converse, 
he  should  discover  a  little  thing  to  my  disadvantage, 
it  is  so  decreed.  Allah  knows,  a  man  of  my  employ- 
ments cannot  keep  the  habits  of  a  saint." 

He  vowed  before  God  to  keep  strict  watch  upon 
himself,  to  avoid  giving  offense  to  his  brother's  piety. 
But  he  had  forgotten  the  vow,  or  recanted,  when  the 
day  of  departure  came. 

Shems-ud-din,  with  other  turbaned  voyagers,  was 
in  the  customhouse,  patiently  enduring  the  chicanery 
of  a  number  of  small  officials  whose  end  was  bakshish, 
when  Milhem  passed  down  the  middle  of  the  great 
shed,  escorted  by  the  mudir  and  a  group  of  high  offi- 
cers. He  overlooked  Shems-ud-din's  salutation,  ap- 
peared unconscious  of  his  neighborhood.  In  loud 
talk  with  his  companions  he  walked  out  at  the  farther 
doors,  through  which  the  dance  of  violet  waves  shone 
twinkling,  and  his  brother  was  left  to  conclude  his 
bargain  with  the  customhouse  men,  when  a  nod  from 
the  Sultan's  plenipotentiary  might  have  released  him. 

On  the  steamship,  bewildered  by  the  novelty  of 
his  situation,  alarmed  by  the  pushing  of  rude  Franks, 
Shems-ud-din  herded  for  countenance  with  a  little 
group  of  the  faithful  on  the  fore  part  of  the  deck; 
nor  dared  to  look  round  for  Milhem.  The  shores 
and  the  fair,  great  city  were  slipping  fast  away,  ere 

10 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

he  descried  the  latter  standing  amidships.  He  ran 
to  him  with  intent  to  embrace,  but  was  checked  by  the 
formality  of  his  reception. 

"  Leave  me  alone  here,  I  entreat  thee,"  said  Mil- 
hem,  as  if  his  teeth  were  set  on  edge.  "  Afterwards, 
upon  land,  I  will  explain  all  things." 

Shems-ud-dm  withdrew,  much  hurt.  He  made 
no  further  claim  on  his  brother's  notice,  but  sat  all 
day  long  in  the  company  of  three  Turkish  merchants, 
men  of  substance  and  of  imperturbable  phlegm,  who 
spoke  in  proverbs  between  long  sucks  at  the  narghileh. 
At  the  rising  of  the  night,  when  the  evening  prayer 
was  ended,  his  black  servant  brought  him  food,  and 
spread  a  bed  for  him  beneath  the  stars.  Once,  ere 
he  lay  down,  his  ear  caught  the  voice  of  Milhem  at 
no  great  distance  talking  glibly  in  a  foreign  tongue, 
and  by  the  light  of  one  of  the  lamps  he  could  dis- 
tinguish his  brother  strolling  amid  a  crowd  of 
Franks,  both  men  and  women.  They  kept  laughing 
the  senseless,  heathen  laugh  that  knows  not  past 
or  future,  nor  foresees  the  judgment  of  the  last 
day. 

The  faces  of  Shems-ud-din's  companions  were 
lost  in  night,  except  when  the  charcoal  in  the  bowl 
of  a  narghileh  glowed  up  redly  as  its  owner  drew  on 
it.  One  said: 

ii 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Allah  created  different  animals.  He  made  no 
crossbreeds.  These  latter  spring  from  sin.  What 
can  be  said  of  one  who,  being  circumcised  and  duly 
shaven  like  ourselves,  yet  chooses  to  sit  on  a  chair  at 
a  table  with  infidels,  his  hands  unwashed,  to  eat 
abomination,  and  to  toy  with  unveiled  women  whose 
face  is  of  brass  for  all  men,  who  know  not  shame? 
Shall  such  an  one  treat  us  as  dirt,  being  most  likely 
the  son  of  some  pimp  or  other?  May  the  justice  of 
God  overtake  him,  and  that  suddenly !  " 

"  Now  Allah  avert  that  curse,  for  the  man  is  my 
mother's  son,"  said  Shems-ud-din  sadly. 

"Ma  sh'  Allah!  Is  it  truth  thou  speakest? 
Then  Allah  forgive  me !  Let  it  be  as  though  I  had 
said  nothing.  I  guessed  not,  O  my  lord,  that  he  was 
the  son  of  any  honorable  house.  Most  of  these  offi- 
cials are  the  sons  of  nothing.  Why  comes  he  not  to 
sit  with  thee?  May  Allah  teach  him  the  way  of  the 
upright !  " 

The  speaker,  a  good  old  man,  by  name  Yusuf, 
a  dealer  in  cotton  goods,  sucked  hard  at  his  narghileh. 
From  that  hour  no  one  of  the  sedate  circle  referred 
to  the  great  man  on  board,  or  betrayed  the  slightest 
interest  in  the  doings  of  the  Frankish  passengers. 
Time  glided  smoothly  for  Shems-ud-din  in  their  com- 
pany, though  few  words  passed,  and  those  of  abstract 

12 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

wisdom.  It  seemed  matter  for  praise  to  Allah  that 
there  was  no  chatterer  among  them.  And  ever  the 
steamboat  panted  on  over  that  silken  sea,  tossing  back 
its  mane  of  dingy  smoke  along  the  furrow  it  had 
plowed.  Only  when  the  panting  ceased  awhile,  did 
the  faithful  quit  the  pose  of  resignation,  uncross  their 
legs,  rise,  stretch  themselves,  and  praise  God  for  the 
view  of  some  white  town  that  rimmed  the  sea,  with 
minarets  and  distaff  cypresses,  and  fertile  gardens  on 
the  hill  beyond. 

At  length,  near  dawn  of  the  fifth  day,  Shems-ud- 
din  awoke  to  find  the  ship  at  rest  on  the  bosom  of  a 
wide  bay.  Already  a  whiteness  played  upon  the 
ripples.  Already,  above  high  mountains  in  the  east, 
appeared  a  blushing  streak,  a  fluttering  pulse  of  light 
that  throbbed  and  spread  till  shapes  grew  clear  in 
silhouette  upon  the  shore  line,  here  a  palm  tree,  there 
a  dwelling;  and  still  the  sky  to  seaward  was  night 
blue  and  spangled  with  stars. 

Shems-ud-din  knelt  down  and  prayed  with  fervor, 
prostrating  himself  many  times.  The  sun  rose,  and 
its  rays  struck  upon  his  two  hands  held  before  his 
face  as  he  prayed.  There  were  the  heights  of  Leb- 
anon, towers  of  darkness  up  against  a  glory.  By  the 
mercy  of  Allah,  he  beheld  those  heights  once  more. 
His  heart  was  full. 

2  13 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Later,  when  the  sun  rode  high  and  many  boats 
had  put  forth  from  the  shore,  he  embarked  in  one  of 
them  with  his  friends  of  the  voyage,  and  was  rowed 
to  the  customhouse.  There,  engaged  in  the  civili- 
ties preliminary  to  the  gift  of  a  coin,  he  was  surprised 
by  Milhem.  He  leaped  at  the  sound  of  his  brother's 
voice  hailing  him  with  words  of  love,  and  the  flush 
of  pleasure  overcame  him.  The  Bey  showed  a  paper 
to  the  officers,  who  straight  made  reverence.  Shems- 
ud-din  and  his  friends  were  free  to  go  where  they 
chose. 

"  I  have  saved  thee  and  those  quaint  worthies  a 
mejidi  apiece.  Art  thou  not  grateful?"  laughed 
Milhem,  as  they  issued  forth  into  the  morning 
sunlight. 

Instantly  their  ears  were  assailed  with  the  shouts 
of  carriage  drivers,  and  a  mob  of  porters  pressed  on 
them,  shouting  also  and  gesticulating,  shouldering  one 
another  roughly  in  the  strife  for  employment.  The 
Bey  had  one  arm  round  his  brother's  neck.  With 
the  other  he  signaled  to  the  most  importunate  of  the 
carriage  drivers,  who  shook  his  reins  in  triumph ;  the 
while  he  continued : 

"  Praise  to  Allah,  that  ordeal  is  ended.  May  all 
the  Franks  rot  painfully,  and  their  fathers  be  con- 
sumed with  fire!  But  it  is  the  will  of  the  Sultan 

14 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

that  we  mix  with  them  and  learn  their  ways.  For 
me,  to  hear  is  to  obey.  What  am  I  but  a  servant? 
...  I  proceed  to  the  city  Esh-Sham  by  the  coach 
this  evening.  That  Greek  dog,  my  secretary,  follows 
with  the  baggage.  There  I  obtain  my  soldiers  from 
the  Waly — a  hundred  only,  not  half  enough  to  over- 
awe those  wild  beasts.  Go  thou,  upon  arrival  in  that 
city,  to  the  khan  of  Ahmed  Effendi,  the  same  who 
was  the  steward  of  our  father's  property.  I  shall 
seek  thee  there.  .  .  .  Allah  be  with  thee  now  and 
always,  O  my  beloved !  " 

He  kissed  Shems-ud-din  very  suddenly  on  both 
cheeks,  sprang  into  his  carriage,  and  was  driven  to 
a  foreign  hotel. 

His  brother,  left  thunderstruck,  stood  by  the  door 
of  the  customhouse,  impervious  to  the  frantic  ef- 
forts made  by  porters,  and  others  having  an  interest 
in  new  arrivals,  to  attract  his  notice.  He  scarcely 
heard  his  servant  speak  to  him,  and  answered  at 
random  a  question  as  to  whither  they  should  be 
going. 

"  So  his  Excellency  the  Bey  has  flown  again," 
said  the  voice  of  Yusuf,  the  old  merchant,  close  to  his 
ear.  "Well,  Allah  knows  where  such  birds  nest! 
I  know  not,  nor  greatly  care  to  know.  Wilt  thou 
make  the  journey  to  Esh-Sham  with  us  who  are  plain 

15 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

men?  With  Allah's  leave  we  will  hire  baggage 
animals,  and  buy  each  one  of  us  an  ass  whereon  to 
ride.  We  shall  journey  slowly,  by  easy  stages,  being 
old  men  and  burdened  with  fat.  If  thy  youth  can 
bear  with  our  infirmities,  journey  with  us  and  wel- 
come, for  we  love  instruction,  and  it  is  seldom  that 
a  learned  sheykh  of  the  religion  falls  to  our  lot  for 
company." 

"  Let  it  be  as  he  says,  O  my  lord !  "  pleaded  the 
negro  eagerly;  for  he  tired  of  standing  still,  a  gazing- 
stock  for  low  people. 

"  So  be  it  then,"  said  Shems-ud-din,  with  a  cordial 
smile.  "  By  my  beard,  I  thank  thee;  for  in  this  min- 
ute I  knew  not  where  to  face." 

So  it  happened  that  Shems-ud-din  entered  the  city 
of  his  birth  one  morning,  riding  soberly  upon  an  ass, 
in  the  company  of  three  fat  old  men,  riding  each  like- 
wise upon  an  ass.  The  legs  of  all  four  stuck  out 
wide  over  full  saddlebags.  On  foot  beside  Shems- 
ud-din  went  his  faithful  negro,  now  walking,  now 
trotting,  in  accordance  with  the  donkey's  pace.  From 
Zebbadani,  where  they  had  spent  the  night,  they 
ambled  by  garden  ways  to  the  great  city,  down  a 
valley  full  of  shade,  and  the  song  of  birds,  and  the 
ever-sweet  murmur  of  running  waters. 

Shems-ud-din  had  found  the  journey  anything  but 
16 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

tiresome.  And  now,  in  the  familiar  streets  where 
every  sight  and  sound  recalled  his  childhood,  he  felt 
like  nothing  more  than  a  happy  child. 

Near  by  the  khan  of  Ahmed  Effendi,  in  a  covered 
way  narrow  and  crowded,  where  the  cavalcade  had 
to  go  in  single  file  with  shouts  to  clear  the  path,  a 
hand  grasped  Shems-ud-din's  arm,  and  the  voice  of 
Milhem  snarled : 

"  Get  down !     Get  down,  madman !  " 

With  fear  the  traveler  alighted,  holding  his  don- 
key by  the  bridle.  The  rope  was  promptly  snatched 
from  his  hand  and  thrust  into  that  of  the  negro,  who 
stood  grinning  by. 

"  Go  on — on  to  the  khan!  Destroy  that  beast! 
— hide  him ! — drown  him.  Y*  Allah !  "  hissed  the 
same  voice  of  authority  and  anger. 

More  and  more  alarmed,  Shems-ud-din  faced 
Milhem.  The  latter  seized  his  arm. 

"  Come  away !  This  way  or  that,  what  recks  it? 
.  .  .  And  now,  peradventure,  thou  wilt  deign  to  in- 
form me  why,  in  the  Holy  Name,  thou  masqueradest 
as  a  jester,  riding  upon  an  ass,  preceded  by  three  old 
men,  all  on  one  pattern,  all  of  them  also  riding  upon 
asses;  so  that  people,  deeming  it  a  portent,  ask: 
*  What  means  this  strange  riding?  '  Thou  couldst 
well  afford  a  fine  horse  apiece  for  thyself  and  thy  serv- 

17 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ant.  What  ails  thee  that  thou  must  needs  play  the 
mountebank?  " 

"  I  must  return  to  my  friends,"  said  Shems-ud- 
din,  disengaging  his  arm.  "  They  will  wonder  what 
has  befallen  me." 

"  Thy  friends !  .  .  .  That  absurd  procession ! 
.  .  .  Allah  witness,  it  is  a  child ! — a  little  child !  " 
Milhem  raised  eyes  to  heaven,  while  his  laugh  rang 
out.  "  Must  I  tell  thee  that  thou  art  a  great  man 
here?  All  the  learned  await  thy  visit  with  impa- 
tience. They  would  have  ridden  forth  to  meet  thee. 
And  behold  thee  seated  upon  the  sorriest  scrub  of  an 
ass  that  ever  I  saw;  preceded  by  three  old  men,  all 
the  sons  of  one  mother,  all  born  at  one  birth,  all  as 
like  as  camels.  What  can  one  say?  It  is  a  miracle, 
perhaps!  " 

'  They  are  not  brothers,  neither  do  they  in  aught 
resemble  one  another,"  said  Shems-ud-din,  much  ag- 
grieved. "  They  are  my  good  friends.  Howbeit, 
to  please  thee,  I  will  sell  my  donkey  and  buy  me  a 
good  horse  before  we  ride  together." 

"  That  is  well.  For  didst  thou  come  riding  upon 
an  ass,  attended  by  three  old  men  with  but  one  face 
between  them,  I  should  know  thee  for  a  wizard  and 
depart  quickly." 

With  that  Milhem  went  off,  chuckling;  leaving 
18 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

his  brother,  crestfallen  and  mystified,  to  find  his  own 
way  to  the  khan  of  Ahmed  Effendi. 

Milhem's  words  proved  true.  Shems-ud-din 
found  himself  in  high  request  among  the  erudite  of 
Damashc-esh-Sham.  During  the  weeks  spent  there, 
he  was  constantly  visiting  and  being  visited;  twice  was 
he  called  upon  to  preach  in  the  great  mosque;  and  a 
general  meeting  of  the  doctors  was  convened  on  pur- 
pose to  debate  with  him  upon  certain  knotty  questions 
of  religious  law.  To  his  vast  surprise,  Milhem 
attended  him  everywhere,  lending  a  disciple's  ear  to 
his  disquisitions,  and  treating  him  in  public  with  a 
new  respect.  In  private,  he  condescended  to  explain : 

"  O  my  dear,  it  is  well  for  one  like  me  to  secure 
the  good  word  of  these  reverend  ones;  who,  as  a  rule, 
hate  the  government  and  its  servants.  I  would  have 
them  perceive  that  I  am  not  irreligious  in  the  likeness 
of  other  officials.  And  I  thank  Allah  for  thy  great 
holiness,  O  my  brother!  " 

"  Call  me  not  holy !  "  cried  Shems-ud-din  in 
horror.  "  There  is  none  holy  save  God  alone.  I 
give  thanks  for  thy  goodness,  O  light  of  my  eyes! 
Very  kind  hast  thou  been  to  me  these  last  days. 
Nevertheless,  I  shall  rejoice  when  we  ride  out  from 
hence.  It  tires  me,  all  this  honor  undeserved.  My 
head  aches  with  the  burden  of  it." 

19 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

At  length  came  the  morn  when  Milhem  rode 
forth  from  that  city  at  the  head  of  a  hundred  armed 
horsemen.  Certain  of  the  notables  of  Esh-Sham 
bore  him  company  a  part  of  the  way,  and  many  of 
the  learned  paid  the  like  compliment  to  Shems-ud-dm, 
who  cut  no  mean  figure  in  the  cavalcade,  mounted  as 
he  was  upon  a  coal-black  charger,  richly  caparisoned 
with  housings  of  gold  and  scarlet  and  light  blue. 
Out  through  the  orchards  they  pranced  in  the  cool 
of  morning,  and  peasants  at  work  among  the  trees 
stood  idle  a  space  to  admire  their  bravery.  Anon 
the  orchards  gave  place  to  vineyards,  the  vineyards 
in  turn  fell  away,  and  the  desert  rolled  out  before 
them,  smooth  and  bare.  Then,  a  halt  being  called, 
the  promenaders  from  the  city  took  leave  of  the  seri- 
ous wayfarers. 

"  It  is  the  pilgrim's  road.  You  face  the  kibleh !  " 
one  called  to  Shems-ud-din.  "  Allah  hold  you  in  safe 
keeping  1  " 

Shems-ud-din  rode  beside  Milhem  at  the  head  of 
his  retinue.  Their  way  led  straight  across  the  brown 
waste — a  track  a  mile  wide  marked  by  the  horde  of 
pilgrims  wending  yearly  to  Mekka.  Here  and  there, 
upon  the  sky  line,  rose  a  wave  of  faint  blue  mountain. 
The  sun  shone  hot  on  their  left  cheeks. 

Milhem  was  in  high  spirits.  Ever  and  anon  he 
20 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

turned  in  the  saddle  to  gaze  with  pride  upon  his  suite, 
who  rode  at  ease,  smoking  cigarettes,  talking  and 
laughing  lightly  together. 

"Art  thou  happy?"  asked  Shems-ud-din. 

"  Very  happy.  Praise  be  to  Allah  who  has  freed 
my  hand  at  last.  I  have  not  known  such  elation 
since  the  day  when  the  Muscovites  fled  from  before 
Silistria." 

"  Silistria !  Wast  thou  really  there  ?  I  have  not 
heard  thee  speak  of  it.  The  story,  I  beseech  thee." 

"  I  speak  but  of  the  joy  felt  by  all  believers  when 
the  place  was  relieved.  I  was  not  of  the  heroes." 

"  But  thou  thyself  hast  done  brave  deeds,  O  my 
brother?" 

'  Yes,  surely,"  said  Milhem;  and  he  proceeded  to 
recount  a  few  of  them. 

That  night,  in  a  pavilion  pitched  on  the  open 
plain,  the  guards  lying  upon  the  ground  without, 
around  their  watch  fires,  Shems-ud-din  could  not  sleep 
for  the  wonder  of  those  tales.  Himself  a  timid  man, 
he  loved  to  hear  of  wild  encounters.  He  strove  to 
place  himself  in  some  of  the  perils  braved  by  Mil- 
hem,  and  thought  he  would  have  died  of  fright. 

There  seemed  no  end  to  Milhem's  strange  adven- 
tures. On  the  morrow  he  remembered  more  of 
them,  which  he  told  with  a  wealth  of  homely  circum- 

21 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

stance  which  enabled  Shems-ud-din  to  witness  all  he 
heard.  For  the  listener,  those  long  marches  passed 
as  the  Thousand  and  One  Nights  must  have  passed 
for  King  Shahriar. 

They  left  the  plain  and  entered  a  land  of  rocks, 
where  the  horses  picked  their  own  way  gingerly. 
Here  progress  was,  perforce,  much  slower.  At 
length,  after  noon  of  the  fourth  day,  he  reached  a 
height  whence,  their  guide  informed  them,  they  could 
catch  sight  of  their  destination.  Immediately  a  dis- 
pute arose  among  the  soldiery,  some  vowing  they 
could  see  a  fine  city  plainly,  while  others  as  positively 
asserted  that  there  was  nothing  of  the  sort  within 
view.  Milhem  made  use  of  his  field  glass,  a  marvel 
he  loved  to  display,  then  handed  it  to  his  brother. 
At  first  Shems-ud-din  could  see  nothing;  but  suddenly 
he  became  aware  of  rocks,  and  houses  like  to  rocks, 
of  monstrous  ruins  and  a  few  poor  fig  trees,  the  whole 
presented  in  a  rainbow  light  not  of  earth. 

"  A  sweet,  a  charming  place !  "  said  Milhem 
bitterly. 

They  descended  a  rough  slope  to  a  ravine,  which 
led  on  to  other  ravines ;  so  that  more  than  three  hours 
elapsed  ere  they  again  beheld  the  little  town,  this 
time  close  at  hand.  A  motley  crowd  of  men  occu- 
pied a  hillock  at  the  entering  in  of  the  place,  above 

22 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  thrashing  floors.  At  sight  of  the  horsemen  this 
crowd  broke  in  a  trice  and  ran  helter-skelter  down 
the  hill  to  meet  them.  There  appeared  some  strife 
among  the  runners,  each  trying  by  every  means  to  re- 
tard a  neighbor.  Some  were  knocked  down;  some 
rolled  together,  struggling  among  the  rocks. 

"Allah  have  mercy!  Behold,  trouble  already! 
A  feud,  if  I  mistake  not,"  said  Milhem,  as  he  watched 
the  race.  He  spoke  a  word  to  the  chief  of  the  sol- 
diers, who  repeated  it  in  a  louder  tone.  The  troop 
pulled  up,  smartly,  on  the  alert. 

Two  young  men,  an  Arab  and  a  Circassian,  had 
distanced  all  competitors.  They  ran  beyond  reach 
of  one  another,  converging  upon  the  spot  where 
the  Governor  had  halted.  As  they  drew  near,  it 
seemed  the  Circassian  had  a  slight  advantage,  but  so 
slight  that  they  were  about  to  collide,  when  the  Arab 
caught  his  rival's  trousers  to  fling  him  back.  The 
other  turned  with  a  yell,  felled  his  adversary,  and 
knelt  upon  his  belly.  A  knife  flashed  on  high.  It 
would  have  fallen  had  not  some  one  caught  the  arm 
that  flourished  it.  There  was  a  moment's  tussle. 
The  Circassian  turned  to  face  his  new  assailant,  when 
all  at  once  his  resistance  died  away.  With  a  curt 
laugh  he  dropped  his  blade. 

:<Who  are  you?"  he  said  to  the  soldiers,  who 
23 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

now  surrounded  him.  "  I  would  have  eaten  that 
dog  and  all  of  you  into  the  bargain.  Not  yours  the 
victory.  It  belongs  to  that  man  there.  I  looked  in 
his  eyes  while  we  fought,  and  they  disarmed  me ;  there 
was  no  wrath  in  them." 

"  Capital !  Most  marvelous !  "  cried  Milhem. 
Forgetting  dignity  in  his  excitement,  he  sprang  down 
off  his  horse  and  embraced  the  hero  of  the  hour. 
'  Thou,  the  timid  one,  to  perform  such  a  deed ! 
Even  I,  who  am  called  courageous,  had  hesitated  to 
come  between  that  wild  beast  and  his  prey." 

Shems-ud-din  was  near  weeping.  He  could  not 
believe  that  it  was  indeed  he  who  had  shown  such 
presence  of  mind.  He  felt  weak  now,  and  dizzy,  in- 
capable of  any  action  whatsoever. 

By  this  time  the  crowd  of  townsmen  had  come  up. 
Alarmed  by  what  had  happened,  they  stood  silent 
by  until  the  Bey  remounted,  when  another  rush  be- 
fell, another  struggle.  "A  boon,  O  our  lord!  " — 
"  A  boon!  "— "  Hear  him!  "— "  Hear  him  not!  " 
came  the  conflicting  shouts.  There  seemed  every 
prospect  of  a  bloody  fight  under  the  very  nose  of  the 
Sultan's  appointed  peacemaker. 

At  a  word  from  Milhem,  the  soldiers  surrounded 
both  factions. 

;<  Where  is  the  sheykh  of  the  place?  "  shouted  the 
24 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

great  man  furiously.  A  tall  old  man  stepped  for- 
ward, making  reverence.  "  Where  the  chief  of  the 
colonists?  " 

"  I  am  he !  "  bawled  the  prisoner  insolently,  from 
between  the  troopers  guarding  him.  "  My  name  is 
Hassan  Agha,  and  the  title  Guardian  of  the  Frontier 
was  conferred  upon  me  by  express  firman." 

Milhem  smiled.  "  Release  his  Excellency  at 
once.  Allah  forgive  the  indignity  offered  to  one  so 
great  and  powerful.  By  the  Koran,  I  took  thee  for  a 
common  murderer.  Deign  to  come  a  little  nearer! 
I  would  get  down  off  my  horse  and  offer  him  to  your 
Highness  were  I  less  weary  with  traveling." 

The  man  approached,  shamefaced,  while  a  titter 
spread  among  the  crowd. 

"  Stand  on  my  right  hand,  O  Great  Guardian  of 
the  Frontier,  and  thou,  O  sheykh,  on  my  left.  .  .  . 
Praise  be  to  God !  "  he  cried  suddenly.  "  His  Grace, 
Hassan  Agha,  Guardian  of  the  Frontier,  deigns  to 
stand  beside  my  horse.  O  honor!  " 

A  roar  of  laughter  went  up  from  crowd  and 
soldiery. 

"  Show  a  little  mercy,  O  my  lord!  "  whispered 
Hassan  wretchedly.  "  Am  I  not  shamed  enough?  " 

Milhem  did  not  answer.  With  the  heads  of  both 
factions  as  it  were  at  his  saddlebow,  he  made  haste 

25 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

to  inform  himself  of  the  grounds  of  dispute  between 
them.  On  the  one  hand,  he  learned  how  the  Circas- 
sians would  pay  for  nothing,  how  they  were  a  turbu- 
lent crew,  the  worst  of  neighbors,  and  had  even 
shown  disrespect  to  some  women  belonging  to  the  old 
inhabitants;  on  the  other  hand,  how  the  Arabs  were 
a  set  of  churls,  fathers  of  avarice,  without  one  gen- 
erous thought  in  their  black  hearts.  Shems-ud- 
din,  hearing  the  vigor  of  those  mutual  denuncia- 
tions, judged  the  case  hopeless  of  settlement  with- 
out bloodshed.  He  was  amazed  to  hear  Milhem 
chuckle. 

"  It  is  my  intention,  and  the  will  of  the  Sultan  is 
with  me  in  the  matter,"  said  the  Governor  pleasantly, 
"  to  live  throughout  my  stay  here  at  the  expense  of 
the  lord  of  this  place,  be  he  Circassian  or  the  son  of 
an  Arab ;  to  reward  his  loyalty,  and  that  he  may  boast 
to  his  children's  children  of  how  he  entertained  the 
Viceroy.  Now  unto  the  house  of  which  of  you  two 
shall  I  repair?  " 

The  rivals  stooped  down  and  exchanged  glances 
under  the  horse's  belly. 

"  He  is  the  sheykh  of  the  town,"  said  Hassan. 
"  And  I  have  no  house  of  my  own." 

"  He  is  the  Guardian  of  the  Frontier,"  said  the 
sheykh.  "  And  may  it  please  your  Excellency,  he 

26 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

has  taken  my  best  house  and  is  living  in  it  without 
rent.  A  sin  it  is,  and  a  great  loss  to  me." 

"  Your  honor  does  not  mean  to  ruin  either  of 
us?  "  coaxed  Hassan,  glancing  up  at  the  great  man's 
face. 

"  In  sh'  Allah,  he  does  but  jest,"  muttered  the 
sheykh,  with  fervor. 

"  I  have  the  power,"  said  Milhem  sternly,  "  and 
by  Allah  Most  High,  I  will  quarter  myself  and  all 
my  retinue  upon  that  one  of  you  who  first  breaks  the 
peace.  To-night  my  camp  is  pitched  beyond  the 
town.  You  have  heard  my  judgment.  Go !  " 

The  old  Arab  and  the  young  Circassian  fell  back 
together,  grinning  at  that  clever  judgment.  But 
presently  the  latter  returned  and  clutched  Shems-ud- 
din's  stirrup. 

"  As  for  thee,"  he  cried,  "  thou  shalt  lodge  no- 
where but  in  my  house.  I  swear  it." 

"  Yes,  go  with  him,  O  my  brother,"  said  Mil- 
hem,  as  one  well  pleased.  "  It  seems  thou  art  a 
tamer  of  wild  beasts.  Go  with  him  and  Allah  with 
thee." 

So  it  happened  that  Shems-ud-din  and  his  servant 
supped  and  slept  that  night  in  the  house  of  a  wild 
brigand,  whose  talk  reeked  of  gore.  And  when  he 
awoke  in  the  morning,  there  was  Hassan  watching 

27 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

him  from  the  arched  doorway,  where  he  stood  polish- 
ing a  long-barreled  gun  with  a  piece  of  goatskin. 
They  smiled  the  one  to  the  other. 

'  Watching  thee  asleep,  I  have  found  out  why 
thou  didst  overcome  me  yesterday — me,  the  pupil  of 
the  mighty  Shamil;  thou,  a  peaceful  doctor  of  re- 
ligion. It  is  because  thou  art  a  saint !  "  said  Hassan 
Agha. 

"  Allah  witness  I  am  the  least  saintlike  of  men," 
said  Shems-ud-din,  yawning  to  fuller  consciousness. 
But  Hassan  would  have  it  that  he  was  a  saint. 

"  I  go  presently  to  see  thy  brother,"  he  added 
after  awhile.  "  We  need  horses  if  we  are  to  fight  the 
Bedu.  He  is  a  devil,  that  brother  of  thine.  I  ex- 
pect he  will  help  us  with  some  stratagem.  ...  By 
Allah,  it  is  a  thankless  task,  protecting  these  tillers 
of  the  rock.  They  have  been  wont  to  pay  to  the 
chiefs  of  the  desert  a  tribute,  by  virtue  of  which  they 
were  unmolested.  Now  they  scowl  on  us  because  we 
forbid  all  tribute  save  to  the  officers  of  our  lord  the 
Padishah — that  is,  ourselves.  As  yet  we  have  not 
seen  one  Bedawi.  The  whole  nation,  they  say,  is  far 
away  in  the  east  at  this  season.  They  come  not  here 
before  the  first  rain.  But  these  fellahin  are  great 
liars.  They  told  us  there  was  a  forest  close  at  hand, 
but  when  we  looked,  behold!  a  few  old  terebinths 

28 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

scattered  over  as  many  hills.  They  told  me  there 
were  tigers,  but  after  hunting  the  region  near  and 
far,  I  brought  back  but  one  lean  partridge,  some 
conies,  some  pigeons,  and  an  owl  or  so.  There  are 
no  tigers.  Perhaps  there  are  no  Bedu  either." 

Hassan  spoke  in  a  jargon  approaching  Turkish 
interspersed  with  words  of  Arabic.  Shems-ud-din 
understood  what  was  said,  though  he  would  have 
been  puzzled  to  separate  the  words.  The  friendli- 
ness of  the  speaker  was,  at  all  events,  past  question. 
He  clapped  his  hands  and  a  girl  appeared  from  some 
inner  chamber,  bearing  a  tray,  whereon  was  bread 
and  curds  and  fruit,  which  the  negro  took  from  her 
and  set  before  his  master. 

"  It  is  my  woman,"  said  Hassan  casually. 
'  Thou  hast  not  brought  one  with  thee  ?  A  pity ! 
Thou  wilt  sigh  in  vain.  Now  there  is  the  daughter 
of  my  uncle — he  who  commands  the  colonists  at  Ain 
Tubeh,  six  hours  from  here — a  fine  girl,  plump  and 
tractable.  My  uncle  would  resign  her  to  thee  at  a 
fair  price — that  is,  if  he  have  not  already  struck  a 
bargain  with  the  dealer.  It  is  a  custom  from  of  old 
with  us  to  sell  the  pretty  ones.  So  they  become  the 
mothers  of  great  men,  perchance  even  of  the  Sultan's 
majesty." 

"  I  have  not  given  thought  to  woman  these  many 
3  29 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

days,"  said  Shems-ud-din,  with  the  look  of  sad  re- 
membrance. "  My  fair  one,  my  Leylah,  died  in 
childbed  awhile  since,  my  desire  with  her.  A  long 
story,  O  my  friend!  It  began  at  Edreyneh,  whither 
I  had  gone,  by  invitation  of  my  friend,  the  learned 
Mustafa,  to  preach  throughout  Ramadan  in  the 
mosque  of  Sultan  Selim " 

"  By  thy  leave,"  broke  in  Hassan,  "  the  morning 
calls  us.  At  noon  or  in  the  evening  we  can  tell  our 
stories.  Come  forth  now,  and  let  me  show  thee  this 
place  of  dogs." 

No  sooner  did  they  leave  the  house,  than  men 
emerged  from  adjacent  dwellings  and  walked  with 
them  till,  ere  they  had  traversed  half  the  town,  they 
headed  a  multitude.  Hassan  led  the  way  by  foul 
and  narrow  alleys  to  the  open  hill  where  stood  the 
remains  of  great  buildings,  whose  smooth  pillars  and 
finely  wrought  capitals  contrasted  the  rudeness  of  the 
modern  stonework. 

'These  are' the  work  of  the  jinn,"  said  a  voice 
from  the  crowd.  "  The  devils  still  hold  festival 
here  of  nights  when  there  is  no  moon." 

Here  in  the  arena  of  a  ruined  amphitheater  Mil- 
hem's  tent  was  pitched.  Around  it  half-dressed  sol- 
diers were  grooming  their  horses  to  the  entertainment 
of  a  swarm  of  noisy  children.  Hassan  went  forward 

30 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

to  the  tent;  Shems-ud-din,  in  enjoyment  of  the  morn- 
ing sun,  sat  down  upon  a  fallen  column  with  his  face 
to  the  blaze. 

The  flat  mud  roofs  of  the  town  formed  a  succes- 
sion of  terrace  steps  beneath  him,  descending  to  a 
stony  wady,  beyond  which  swelled  the  wilderness  of 
barren  rocks.  A  patch  of  verdure  by  the  town  spring, 
a  few  olive  trees  down  in  the  ravine,  a  few  poor  fig 
trees  among  the  ruins  near  to  where  he  sat — all  else 
was  bronze  and  purple  of  the  desert  hills. 

"  Even  such  a  land,"  he  mused  aloud,  "  did  our 
lord  Muhammed  (peace  to  him)  inhabit  of  old. 
Amid  such  solitudes  did  the  angel  of  God  converse 
with  him  to  the  salvation  of  man  and  jinni." 

The  townsfolk  had  taken  seat  around  him  upon 
the  ruins.  All  eyes  were  fixed  on  his  face.  At  those 
pious  words  one  said:  "  It  is  some  holy  one!  "  and 
the  whisper  ran  apace.  It  startled  Shems-ud-din, 
who  had  forgotten  their  existence,  when  the  sheykh 
of  the  place  stood  forth  and  bowed  before  him, 
saying  : 

"  Instruct  us,  O  master !  We  believe ;  but  ig- 
norantly,  having  but  little  knowledge  of  the  Way. 
Teach  us  now,  we  entreat  thee." 

Then  Shems-ud-din,  looking  round  upon  those 
eager  faces,  was  moved  to  pity. 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  You  can  recite  the  Fat'ha  and  the  belief?  "  he 
asked. 

Instantly  the  prayer  went  up  as  from  one  throat, 
and  the  shout  followed : 

"God  is  greatest.  There  is  no  God  but  God; 
and  Muhammed  is  the  Apostle  of  God." 

'  You  are  not  in  total  darkness,"  said  Shems-ud- 
din,  with  a  smile;  and  he  began  to  tell  them  of  the 
dealings  of  God  with  men  from  the  days  of  Adam 
and  Nuh  and  Ibrahim  unto  the  time  of  Muhammed, 
and  thence  downward  even  to  the  present  day. 

In  this  occupation,  Milhem,  coming  forth  from 
council  with  the  chief  of  the  colonists,  found  him  at 
length. 

"  Hail,  O  tamer  of  wild  beasts !  "  he  laughed. 
"  It  is  as  if  they  would  swallow  thee  whole,  their 
mouths  are  so  wide  open.  It  is  too  hot  for  thee  to 
sit  out  longer.  Come  now  into  my  tent — or  return 
to  the  house  of  our  friend,  the  Guardian  of  the  Fron- 
tier. By  Allah,  I  must  thank  thee  for  his  friendship. 
It  is  a  great  debt  I  owe  thee,  for  he  could  have  done 
me  endless  mischief." 

"  By  my  gun,  he  is  a  devil,  that  brother  of 
thine !  "  said  Hassan,  as  they  sauntered  back  through 
the  town.  "  With  one  blink  of  his  eyes  he  con- 
structed a  plan  whereby  we  may  obtain  a  stud  of  the 

32 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

best  horses  at  the  lowest  price  ever  known.  But  that 
is  a  secret." 

Shems-ud-din  lacked  curiosity.  He  was  thinking 
how  to  improve  the  minds  of  those  Muslims,  so  hun- 
gry for  instruction. 

In  the  days  which  followed,  he  delivered  many 
discourses  in  the  little  tumble-down  mosque,  and  up 
on  the  open  hillside.  He  came  to  love  the  place  and 
its  inhabitants,  and  could  not  sympathize  with  Mil- 
hem,  whose  lips  dropped  curses  on  the  entire  country. 

Summer  broke  at  length,  with  thunder,  lightning, 
and  a  tremendous  downpour.  Rain  fell  in  sheets  for 
the  space  of  five  days.  When  at  last  the  sky  cleared, 
there  was  a  new  cold  taste  in  the  air;  a  torrent  thun- 
dered in  the  gorge  beneath  the  town;  green  plants 
began  to  shoot  among  the  rocks.  In  a  little  while 
the  hill  of  ruins  became  starred  all  over  with  blossoms 
of  the  crocus  and  the  cyclamen. 

Then  Hassan  was  absent  all  day  long,  scouring 
the  hills  with  his  men,  armed  to  the  teeth.  Each 
evening  he  spent  in  cleaning  and  polishing  his  beloved 
weapons. 

One  night  he  came  in  with  eyes  of  joy. 

"  The  Bedu,  O  beloved !  I  have  seen  the  Bedu  1 
Their  tents  blacken  a  dell  not  two  hours  distant. 
Their  herds  roam  at  large.  They  will  come  hither 

33 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

for  the  accustomed  tribute.  Ah,  thy  brother  is  a 
devil !  To-morrow  and,  it  may  be,  the  next  day  also, 
I  abide  in  the  house  with  thee.  Dost  wonder  why? 
Ah,  that  is  a  secret !  " 

Two  days  later,  as  Shems-ud-din  sat  meditating 
beneath  a  fig  tree  on  the  hill  of  ruins,  shrouded  horse- 
men came  riding  out  of  the  east.  His  eyes  made  out 
twenty  of  them,  each  armed  with  a  long  lance  whose 
point  glanced  in  the  sunlight,  each  well  mounted  on 
a  prancing  steed.  Then,  remembering  the  veiled 
words  of  Hassan  relative  to  the  tribute,  he  descended 
in  haste  to  the  town. 

Standing  at  the  junction  of  two  narrow  ways,  he 
saw  the  foremost  of  the  cavaliers  ride  up  to  the 
sheykh's  door,  before  which  a  few  children  seemed  to 
loiter.  The  sheykh  came  forth,  crying  welcome,  and 
offering  his  house  by  a  gesture.  The  leader  jumped 
down  and  made  fast  his  horse  to  a  stone  of  the  wall. 
His  followers  also  alighted,  tethering  their  steeds 
in  like  manner.  They  all  entered  the  house  with 
friendly  words  to  its  owner. 

No  sooner  were  they  gone  than  from  every  dwell- 
ing beside  the  way,  out  of  every  lane,  poured  sol- 
diers and  armed  Circassians.  The  throng  prevented 
Shems-ud-din  from  seeing  what  happened  after.  But 
a  fearful  din  arose;  shrieks,  curses,  laughter  mingled 

34 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

with  the  clash  of  arms.  He  stopped  his  ears.  The 
sky  above  the  hovels  turned  black  in  his  sight,  the 
houses  livid  white,  a  grin  beneath  frowning  brows. 

Presently,  one  came  running  blindly,  moaning 
as  he  ran — a  man  well  stricken  in  years,  no  other 
than  the  sheykh  himself.  A  tall,  slim  girl  ran  after 
him,  barefoot  and  weeping,  her  veil  displaced. 
Shems-ud-din  caught  the  old  man's  hand  and  ran 
with  him  till  the  town  was  left  behind.  There  the 
frenzied  wretch  broke  from  him,  and  flung  himself 
down  in  a  place  of  stones,  dashing  his  face  upon  hard 
rocks,  cursing  the  day  that  he  was  born.  Shems-ud- 
din  and  the  girl  raised  him  up  between  them,  and  in 
so  doing  their  eyes  met.  She  bethought  her  of  her 
veil;  in  haste  she  dragged  the  white  lawn  across  her 
face,  while  the  little  pout  of  annoyance  in  self-con- 
sciousness became  her  well.  It  seemed  to  Shems-ud- 
din  that  he  had  gazed  once  more  in  Leylah's  eyes — 
profound  as  a  night  of  stars  when  no  moon  rises. 

Despite  all  attempts  to  calm  him,  the  sheykh  went 
on  shrieking  and  tearing  his  raiment.  He  plucked 
off  his  turban  and  adherent  tarbush,  and  cast  them 
from  him,  exposing  his  naked  poll  to  the  sun  of  noon. 

"  Allah  witness,  I  was  forced  to  it !  "  he  yelled 
madly.  '  The  sons  of  Eblis  forced  me  to  betray  my 
good  lords.  They  sat  as  guests  in  my  house  when 

35 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  soldiers  took  them.  Their  horses  are  stolen,  they 
themselves  taken  to  serve  in  the  army.  O  Lord! 
.  .  .  Allah  knows  the  deceit  was  forced  on  me. 
Hassan — may  his  father  perish ! — swore  to  slay  my 
three  sons  if  I  refused.  We  had  peace  till  he  came. 
Now  we  shall  never  know  peace  any  more.  For  our 
lords  of  the  desert  will  avenge  this  outrage.  The 
Circassian  pigs  will  not  suffer,  for  they  have  no  prop- 
erty. But  we  ...  O  Lord !  Would  to  God  I  were 
dead  and  in  the  tomb  !  " 

Shems-ud-din  replaced  the  skullcap  and  turban 
upon  the  old  man's  head.  When  the  frenzy  had 
somewhat  abated,  he  advised  him  to  seek  some  neigh- 
bor's house;  and  watched  him  shuffle  off,  leaning  upon 
the  arm  of  the  tall  maid  who  hid  Leylah's  eyes  be- 
neath her  veil,  and  had  not  said  farewell.  Then  he 
himself  strode  frowning  in  search  of  Milhem. 

His  Excellency  sat  in  the  guest  chamber  of  the 
sheykh's  house,  flushed  with  triumph,  the  Circassians 
praising  God  around  him.  He  was  in  the  course  of 
dictating  a  report  of  the  affair  to  the  Greek,  his  sec- 
retary, when  Shems-ud-din  stood  in  the  midst  and 
cried  shame  on  him.  For  one  minute  he  seemed 
startled.  The  next  he  turned  his  eyes  toward  the 
vaulted  roof,  crying: 

"  Allah  witness,  it  is  a  child — a  little  child !  " 
36 


THE    HOUSE    OF   ISLAM 

"  Now  I  know  why  thou  wast  loath  to  have  me 
journey  with  thee.  And  I  confess  here,  before  all 
these  men,  that  I  did  wrong  not  to  be  ruled  by  thee 
then,  that  I  did  wrong  in  cleaving  to  thee.  For 
great  grief  is  come  upon  me.  My  brother,  once  the 
best  of  men,  has  sinned  most  heinously,  and  I  am 
witness  of  his  crime." 

"  Said  I  not  he  was  a  saint?  "  said  Hassan  tri- 
umphantly, from  somewhere  in  the  background. 

Milhem  frowned,  stroking  his  close  beard,  then 
smiled  indulgently. 

;' What  dost  thou  know  of  statecraft?  Go,  O 
my  brother !  and  when  thou  art  recovered  I  will  speak 
with  thee,"  he  said,  with  some  compassion  and  much 
dignity. 

"  I  go,"  said  Shems-ud-din  curtly,  and  stepped 
forth  once  more  into  the  sunlight. 

That  night,  as  he  sat  with  Hassan  in  the  house, 
the  latter  mocked  at  his  grave  looks. 

"  Art  still  vexed  about  thy  brother's  little  strata- 
gem? Let  not  that  trouble  thee.  It  is  war,  thou 
understandest.  The  Bedu  will  take  vengeance  for 
this,  and  we,  in  turn,  shall  avenge  their  venge- 
ance, and  so  it  will  go  on — in  sh'  Allah — till  the 
last  day." 

"  My  thought  is  not  of  war,"  said  Shems-ud-din. 

37. 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Know,  O  Hassan,  that  I  love  once  more !  "  And 
he  related  his  adventure  with  the  old  sheykh's  daugh- 
ter. "  O  her  eyes!  O  her  straight  white  nose!  O 
the  fullness  of  her  cheeks,  her  chin !  .  .  .  Now  tell 
me,  what  character  does  she  bear?  " 

"  Thou  wouldst  not  wed  her,  surely?  " 

"  I  love — that  is  enough.  My  life  flows  out  to 
her.  There  is  but  one  beloved !  " 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  "  murmured  Hassan,  in  the  ut- 
most consternation.  "  She  is  a  girl  like  another. 
There  is  nothing  told  of  her.  A  virgin  has  no  form, 
no  color,  no  fire,  save  that  one  gives  to  her.  For  me 
she  is  nothing;  for  thee,  much.  As  for  character, 
she  has  none,  which  means  she  is  a  young  girl.  .  .  . 
But  reflect,  O  my  dear!  When  thou  returnest  to 
Istanbul " 

"  I  sha-11  not  return." 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  "  muttered  Hassan  again,  and 
he  kept  silence  a  great  while,  munching  his  long  mus- 
tache. At  length  he  said,  "  I  must  inform  thy 
brother,  my  lord  the  Bey,  of  this  thy  decision." 

;'  Tell  him,"  said  Shems-ud-din. 

On  the  morrow  he  was  roused  betimes  by  Has- 
san's hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Arise,  O  my  soul,  and  come  with  me  to  my  lord 
the  Bey.  I  have  seen  him  already." 

38 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

It  was  a  gray  dawn  threatening  rain.  In  silence 
they  repaired  to  the  house  which  Milhem  had  occu- 
pied since  the  approach  of  winter.  The  great  man 
sat  upon  his  bed  to  receive  them. 

"O  Shems-ud-din,  what  is  this?"  he  cried  re- 
proachfully. "  Is  it  true  thou  wilt  abide  in  this  wil- 
derness worse  than  Jehennum?  Surely  thou  art 
mad.  There,  at  Istanbul,  thou  art  in  the  road  to 
great  honor.  By  Allah,  I  look  to  see  thee  Sheykh- 
ul-Islam.  Whereas  here — what  awaits  thee?  .  .  . 
And  canst  thou  contemplate  a  lasting  union  with  the 
daughter  of  a  base  fellah — thou  who  couldst  make  a 
grand  alliance  to  enhance  thy  honor  and  mine?  I 
beseech  thee,  think  not  of  it!  If  thou  doest  this 
through  disgust  of  what  befell  here  yesterday,  know 
that  those  men  are  rebels  against  the  Sultan.  They 
owe  more  than  the  worth  of  their  horses  to  the  gov- 
ernment. And  how  light  their  punishment!  They 
are  but  asked  to  serve  three  years  in  the  army,  like 
every  faithful  subject  of  his  Majesty.  By  Allah, 
there  is  no  wrong  done  to  them !  .  .  .  Say,  was  that 
the  reason  of  thy  mad  resolve?  .  .  .  The  term  of 
my  appointment  draws  nigh,  and  it  makes  me  sad 
to  think  of  leaving  thee  here  in  this  lair  of  wild 
beasts." 

"  I  am  content  to  be  here,"  said  Shems-ud-din 
39 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

firmly.  "  Once  have  I  sinned  in  forsaking  the  path 
God  showed  me.  I  will  not  sin  that  sin  a  second 
time." 

"But  Allah  pity!  What  can  a  man  of  thy 
wealth  and  attainments  do  in  a  place  like  this?  It  is 
not  a  place  one  could  beautify  for  a  wonder  and  a 
byword.  I  myself  have  had  that  dream :  to  change 
a  desert  to  a  paradise.  But  what  can  a  man  like  thee 
do  here?" 

"  He  can  live  in  peace;  he  can  teach  the  people; 
he  can  ply  his  trade  in  the  bazaar.  As  for  my  wealth, 
I  have  no  need  for  all  of  it.  When  thou  regainest 
Istanbul,  sell  all  I  possess,  and  take  the  half  of  the 
proceeds  to  thyself,  sending  me  the  other  half.  I 
shall  give  thee  letters  to  my  steward  and  also  to  the 
heads  of  the  learned.  Thy  need  is  greater  than 
mine." 

"  Allah,  look!  It  is  a  child— a  foolish  child!  " 
cried  Milhem  loudly;  but  he  was  somewhat  moved 
from  opposition  to  his  brother's  scheme.  "  Thou 
talkest  of  peace.  Remember  yesterday.  That  is 
nothing — a  trifle — a  mere  beginning.  .  .  .  Peace 
forsooth !  Nay,  my  soul  fears  grave  danger  for 
thee." 

"  Fear  not,  O  my  lord!  "  said  Hassan,  who  had 
all  this  while  stood  silent  by.  "  On  my  head  be  the 

40 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

danger.  This,  my  good  lord,  thy  brother,  is  not  one 
who  can  guard  himself.  He  is  not  like  thee,  a  devil ! 
Thou  hast  said  it:  he  is  a  child — a  little  child, 
whose  hand  is  in  the  hand  of  Allah.  The  friendship 
of  such  an  one  is  counted  to  a  man  for  righteousness. 
By  Allah,  I  am  glad  he  stays  with  us.  His  presence 
calls  a  blessing  on  us  all.  But  would  to  Allah  he  had 
chosen  the  daughter  of  my  uncle.  It  would  not  have 
been  half  so  serious.  As  it  is,  we  must  swear  peace 
with  those  fellahin  forever  and  ever." 

"  Said  I  not  well  when  I  named  thee  tamer  of 
wild  beasts?"  said  Milhem  laughing.  "But  I 
would  thou  hadst  chosen  some  pleasanter  way  in 
which  to  display  thy  power.  I  ask  but  one  thing  of 
thee,  thou  dear  madman.  Let  me  depart  ere  thy 
wedding.  I  would  not  defer  thy  bliss,  but  fix  it  for 
the  day  of  my  departure;  so  thou  shalt  not  mourn 
my  loss  too  deeply.  I  shall  start  at  the  dawn,  leav- 
ing my  peace  with  thee.  By  Allah,  it  is  a  disgrace 
to  our  house.  Nevertheless,  do  as  thou  wilt.  It  is 
thy  business." 

The  day  whereon  Milhem's  government  ex- 
pired, Shems-ud-din  rose  two  hours  before  daylight, 
mounted  the  horse  which  Hassan  had  saddled  for 
him,  and  rode  slowly  to  his  brother's  residence.  The 
town  was  astir.  Lights  moved  here  and  there  as  yel- 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

low  eyes  in  the  darkness,  illuming  spaces  of  rough 
wall  and  filthy  pathway.  He  had  to  shout  his  way 
through  the  crowd  which  choked  the  approaches  to 
the  house  of  the  Bey. 

The  cavalcade  stood  ready  to  start,  bits  jangled, 
stallions  neighed.  The  soldiers  standing  at  their 
horses'  heads,  in  hooded  ulsters  and  high,  long-tas- 
seled  fezzes,  cut  a  queer  figure  as  seen  in  silhouette 
against  the  shine  of  sundry  lanterns  borne  by  mem- 
bers of  the  crowd. 

At  the  noise  of  his  brother's  arrival,  Milhem  came 
out,  when  the  crowd  gave  forth  a  strange,  deep  note, 
like  a  night  bird's  cry,  repeated  at  regular  intervals; 
and  with  the  note  each  man  beat  his  staff  with  might 
upon  the  ground.  The  staves  fell  as  one.  The 
effect  was  both  weird  and  mournful,  by  the  light  of 
a  few  scattered  lanterns,  in  that  cold  hour  and  in  the 
darkness  under  the  stars. 

Milhem  was  warmly  wrapped.  He  embraced 
his  brother  silently,  and  then  in  a  husky  voice  gave 
the  word  to  advance. 

The  same  wild  sounds  of  respect  and  woe  accom- 
panied them  to  the  hill  without  the  town,  to  ring  in 
their  ears  long  after. 

Shems-ud-dm  rode  beside  his  brother  through 
dark  chasms  of  the  hills  till  the  white  of  dawn  ap- 

42 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

peared  above  the  rock  ridge  toothed  like  a  saw. 
Then  he  reined  in  his  horse. 

"  In  thy  grace  I  depart,"  he  murmured. 

"  With  my  peace  thou  goest!  "  said  Milhem,  and 
he  gulped  as  if  to  swallow  something  which  impeded 
speech.  "  Allah  knows  I  sin  in  suffering  thee  to 
remain  here  alone.  My  heart  reproves  mere  sorely. 
Kindest  of  the  kind  hast  thou  been  to  me  always. 
Often  have  I  been  ungrateful;  very  often  have  I 
sinned  against  thee.  I  ask  thy  forgiveness  humbly 
now.  Allah  knows  my  soul  hurts  me!  ...  O  be- 
loved !  .  .  .  Give  me  now  a  blessing  ere  we  part." 

Milhem  sprang  down  off  his  horse,  and  would 
have  knelt  to  Shems-ud-din  had  not  the  latter,  dis- 
mounting also,  prevented  him,  saying: 

"  Thus  only  do  I  bless  thee,  O  my  dear!  "  He 
kissed  Milhem  warmly  on  both  cheeks. 

For  a  moment  they  clung  together,  white  dawn 
on  their  faces.  Then  Shems-ud-din  whispered: 

"  God  bless  thee,  O  my  brother,  now,  and  in  the 
hour  of  death,  and  in  the  last  day." 

He  climbed  back  into  the  saddle  and  rode  lonely 
away,  followed  by  shouts  of  good  will  from  all  the 
escort.  He  felt  nothing,  saw  nothing,  thought  of 
nothing,  for  a  long  while. 

Just  as  he  reached  that  turn  of  the  wady  whence 
43 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  town  is  first  seen,  the  sun  glanced  out  behind  him. 
Himself  in  deep  shadow,  he  beheld  all  the  opposite 
slope,  dwarf  town,  giant  ruins,  a  few  poor  fruit 
trees,  bathed  of  a  sudden  in  a  rich  glow,  like  nothing 
earthly,  beneath  a  sky  grape  blue  and  full  of  stars. 
He  drew  rein,  gaping  at  the  vision.  There  were  the 
peasants  going  to  their  tillage  among  the  rocks;  there 
were  the  veiled  ones  tripping  down  to  the  spring, 
each  with  arms  upcurved  to  sustain  the  pitcher  upon 
her  head.  In  that  ruddy  glow  they  flitted  as  thin 
shades.  He  could  realize  nothing,  remember  noth- 
ing. The  place  seemed  foreign  to  him. 

But  presently  a  horseman  galloped  forth  from  the 
town,  and  rode  straight  toward  him,  clattering  upon 
the  rocks.  Shems-ud-din  heard  his  shout.  It  was 
the  voice  of  Hassan,  crying: 

"  Hail  to  the  bridegroom !  " 

Then  Shems-ud-din  blushed  hot  for  joy.  Even 
now  the  bride  prepared  herself.  It  was  his  wedding 
morn. 


44 


CHAPTER  I 

MANY  years  had  passed  since  that  day-spring. 
Shems-ud-din  sat  in  his  shop  in  the  small  bazaar,  a 
great  sorrow  at  his  heart.  His  wife  had  died  long 
ago;  his  son,  lured  by  promises  from  the  exalted  Mil- 
hem,  had  gone  forth  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  gov- 
ernment service ;  and  now  it  had  pleased  God  to  smite 
the  last  remaining  of  his  dear  ones. 

Alia,  little  Alia,  whom  he  cherished  as  his  own 
eyes,  lay  sick  of  a  wasting  illness  none  could  name. 
Every  homely  charm  and  nostrum  had  been  applied 
in  vain.  A  famous  leech  from  distant  Damashc-esh- 
Sham  had  bled  her  copiously,  and  stayed  ten  days  in 
the  house,  expecting  some  good  result.  At  last,  see- 
ing her  life  still  waned,  he  had  taken  Shems-ud-din 
aside  and  spoken  gravely. 

"  O  Sheykh,  this  is  from  the  hand  of  Allah.  All 
my  science  is  as  air  against  it.  The  stalk  is  cut,  the 
ear  will  fall.  It  is  decreed.  Grieve  not  overmuch, 
I  entreat  thee.  Rather  thank  Allah  that  it  is  not 
thy  son,  but  only  a  girl  from  whom  no  honor  comes." 

Shems-ud-din  duly  thanked  Allah,  but  cast  about 
4  45 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

in  his  mind  for  some  remedy  yet  to  try.  He  was 
come  to  his  shop  at  this  idle  hour  of  noon  on  purpose 
to  think  undisturbed.  But  the  halls  of  his  under- 
standing were  darkened  and  unfamiliar;  even  the 
lamp  of  faith  burned  dimly,  a  great  way  off.  Though 
he  prayed,  "  In  mercy  heal  her!  O  Allah,  spare  the 
sunshine  of  my  age !  "  he  knew  the  worthlessness  of 
such  prayer.  His  will  was  not  lost  in  the  Divine 
Will,  but  beat  against  it  to  its  own  hurt,  a  moth  at 
the  flame. 

The  voice  of  the  torrent  in  the  wady,  swollen 
from  days  of  rain,  droned  in  his  ears.  The  noontide 
murmur  of  the  town — men's  talk,  the  cooing  of 
doves,  a  clink  from  the  forge — was  subdued  by  it. 
It  filled  all  the  pauses  of  thought  with  a  dull  refrain 
which  seemed  that  of  his  own  woe,  the  ever-recurring 
numbness  of  sheer  grief  that  prevented  his  thinking 
to  any  purpose.  It  deadened  a  noise  of  bells  ap- 
proaching, until  it  was  quite  near,  in  the  bazaar  itself. 

The  clangor  filled  the  air  suddenly,  starting 
many  echoes.  But  Shems-ud-dm  did  not  turn  his 
head.  He  continued  sitting  with  his  back  to  the 
world,  spreading  out  his  hands  over  the  brazier, 
which  he  had  lighted  for  an  illusion  of  comfort.  He 
heard  the  ponderous,  padded  tread  of  camels;  he 
smelt  their  hides;  and  one  by  one,  in  passing,  the 

46 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

huge  beasts  took  the  daylight  from  him.  The  jangle 
of  the  bells  was  deafening. 

All  at  once  it  ceased.  The  train  had  halted. 
But  Shems-ud-din  did  not  turn  his  head. 

"  O  Allah,  weld  my  will  to  Thine !  O  Lord, 
spare  my  daughter!  "  he  kept  moaning. 

"  For  how  much  dost  thou  sell  this,  O  effendi?  " 
said  a  husky  voice  behind  him. 

Turning  then,  in  some  dismay,  Shems-ud-din  be- 
held a  man  unkempt  and  meanly  clad,  grinning  sheep- 
ishly as  he  held  up  a  tiny  bottle  of  attar  of  roses.  It 
was  evidently  one  of  the  camel  drivers,  for  he  held 
the  end  of  a  rope  wound  round  his  wrist;  and  the 
small,  superb  face  of  a  camel  looked  over  his  head 
into  the  shop,  sneering  at  what  it  saw  there. 

"  For  how  much  ?  "  came  again  in  the  husky 
voice.  "  I  give  thee  six  piasters." 

"  Be  it  thine  at  that  price.  Take  it,  my  son,  and 
go  in  peace." 

The  grin  departed  from  the  camel  driver's  face. 
His  mouth  fell  open,  and  his  eyes  grew  round  with 
alarm.  He  set  down  the  bottle  hastily,  and  began 
muttering  to  himself. 

11  What  ails  thee  ?  Why  dost  thou  murmur  in 
thy  soul?  "  asked  Shems-ud-din. 

"Ma  sh'  Allah!  Thou  askest  why?  Is  there 
47 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

not  cause  enough,  O  my  master?  Is  this  precious 
attar — the  soul  of  a  thousand  roses?  By  Allah,  no, 
I  think  not.  For  six  piasters!  And  if  I  bought  it 
and  carried  it  to  her  I  love,  and  a  jinni  came  out  and 
deflowered  her  I  love,  and  slew  me  and  took  my  love 
away  under  the  sea  or  among  the  roots  of  the  moun- 
tains. .  .  .  Aha,  precious  attar  indeed !  and  cheap  at 
six  piasters !  .  .  .  But  Ibrahim  is  a  wary  man,  one 
accustomed  to  look  behind  him.  When  he  saw  thy 
back  toward  him,  when  thou  gavest  him  no  greeting, 
he  said  in  his  soul,  '  O  soul,  be  warned !  Either  this 
merchant  will  play  the  listless  to  drive  the  harder 
bargain,  or  else  here  is  something  strange,  out  of  the 
natural '  " 

"  Be  silent,  foolish  one !  "  interrupted  Shems-ud- 
din.  "  My  daughter,  in  whom  I  delight,  lies  near 
to  death,  and  my  mind  is  distraught  with  grief. 
Though  I  heard  thee  and  saw,  it  conveyed  nothing  to 
my  mind.  In  truth,  the  perfume  is  worth  more  than 
six  piasters.  Take  it  as  a  gift  from  me  and  go." 

At  that  the  simpleton  kissed  the  ground  before 
Shems-ud-din. 

"  O  father  of  mercy !  "  he  blubbered.  "  Long 
have  I  desired  to  make  such  a  present  to  her  I  love. 
Allah  comfort  thee,  O  my  dear  lord!  Despair  not 
for  thy  girl.  There  be  workers  of  miracles  in  the 

48 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

land  nowadays.  Hear  what  befell  myself  awhile 
since.  As  I  journeyed  to  the  Holy  City  in  the  train 
of  certain  Franks,  having  charge  of  their  baggage, 
death  seized  me  round  my  belly  and  flung  me  from  my 
mule  whereon  I  sat,  and  laid  me  upon  the  stones  of 
the  path,  and  there  knelt  on  me  with  such  weight 
that  I  shrieked  aloud  for  the  pain  in  my  midst.  It 
had  been  the  end  of  me,  had  not  one  of  the  infidels, 
who  was  a  physician,  jumped  down  off  his  horse,  and 
producing  something  from  his  clothes,  forced  me  to 
swallow  a  part  of  it.  Its  taste  was  bitter  as  gall,  so 
that  I  screamed  the  more  and  cursed  the  poisoner. 
But  after  a  little,  death  fled  and  my  health  returned 
to  me,  and  I  went  forward  singing  upon  my  way. 
Great  is  the  science  of  the  Franks.  Our  physicians 
are  as  fools  to  them.  They  have  a  fine  hospital  in 
El  Cuds.  Take  thy  daughter  thither.  .  .  ." 

'  Ya  I-bra-him !  "  came  a  cry  out  of  the  distance. 
"  Where  art  thou?  Make  haste !  We  tire  of  wait- 
ing." 

'  The  companions  call  me.  In  thy  grace,  I  go. 
Forget  not  my  counsel.  What  is  the  journey  to  El 
Cuds  for  one  like  thee?  Three  days,  or  four  at  the 
most;  and  the  girl  can  ride  comfortably  in  a  palan- 
quin between  two  mules.  There,  with  Allah's  leave, 
she  will  be  healed.  ...  I  come !  I  come !  " 

49 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Tucking  the  bottle  into  his  waistband,  he  turned 
and  would  have  run,  had  not  the  camel,  refusing  to 
be  hurried,  pulled  him  up  with  a  jerk.  The  rope 
between  them  was  taut  as  a  lute  string  as  they  passed 
from  sight. 

The  jangle  of  bells  had  sunk  once  more  beneath 
the  roar  of  the  torrent  ere  Shems-ud-din  perceived 
that  his  prayer  was  answered.  Then  great  awe  fell 
upon  him,  and  he  said  in  his  heart,  "  I  have  sinned." 
It  shamed  him  to  know  that  Allah  had  heard  his 
wayward  moaning.  He,  an  old  man  whose  beard 
was  white,  had  prayed  blindly,  senselessly,  as  a  child 
prays,  to  be  shown  a  little  hope,  some  remedy  yet 
untried.  Now  that  his  request  was  granted,  he  felt 
as  that  camel  driver  had  felt  on  finding  the  attar  his 
at  the  price  first  offered. 

While  he  sat  thus  between  great  hope  and  fear, 
a  face  looked  in  upon  him  out  of  the  sunlight,  and  a 
youthful  voice  exclaimed : 

"  May  thy  day  be  happy,  O  my  master.  How 
fares  the  beloved?  " 

It  was  Shibli,  his  favorite  pupil  and  the  bride- 
groom designate  of  Alia. 

"  Enter,  O  my  son,  and  welcome,"  said  Shems-ud- 
din;  and  he  straight  described  to  his  disciple  all  the 
happenings  since  sunrise,  from  the  departure  of  the 

50 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

city  physician  to  the  advice  so  strangely  proffered  by 
a  simple  camel  driver.  At  the  end,  Shibli  cried: 

"  It  is  the  best  advice.  Let  us  go  to  El  Cuds. 
Apart  from  the  virtue  of  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Dome 
of  the  Rock,  I  thirst  to  behold  so  famous  a  city.  My 
father  will  grant  me  leave  to  travel  with  thee.  O 
happy  day !  " 

Shems-ud-din  smiled  upon  the  boy's  excitement. 
To  rebuke  it,  he  said : 

"  Allah  knows  it  is  not  for  pastime  that  I  go." 

But  Shibli's  delight  in  the  prospect  made  it  bright 
for  him  also. 

Presently,  giving  his  disciple  charge  of  the  shop, 
Shems-ud-din  issued  forth  into  the  sunlight  and 
started  to  climb  a  steep  and  stony  path,  like  the  bed 
of  a  torrent,  which  led  to  his  dwelling.  Women, 
gossiping  at  their  doors,  blessed  him  by  name  as  he 
passed,  and  inquired  tenderly  concerning  the  health 
of  his  dear  one.  The  sun,  sinking  down  upon  the 
hilltop,  dazzled  his  eyes.  Hope,  renewed,  opened  the 
gates  of  his  mind,  even  as  his  despondency  had  shut 
them  fast,  to  things  around  him.  He  noticed  the 
lizard  basking  in  the  sunshine,  the  tuft  of  hyssop 
growing  between  the  stones. 

His  house  stood  highest  of  all  in  the  little  city, 
close  upon  the  hill  of  ruins.  He  had  himself  planned 

51 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

and  superintended  its  building  long  ago,  so  that  there 
was  none  like  it  for  size  and  nobility  of  aspect. 

Before  the  wide  open  arch  which  was  the  en- 
trance hall,  upon  a  terrace  of  rolled  mud — which 
seemed  a  parade  ground,  but  was  in  fact  but  the  roof 
of  the  house  below — an  old  negro  was  standing  in  a 
posture  of  some  dejection,  gazing  wistfully  at  the 
heights  beyond  the  wady.  He  started  at  his  master's 
approach,  and  answered  the  question  about  Alia  with 
a  despairing  grin. 

Shems-ud-din  passed  into  the  house.  Very  softly 
he  opened  a  door.  The  room  within  was  darkened. 
What  light  stole  in  through  chinks  in  the  shutters  re- 
vealed but  vague  outlines. 

"  How  is  she?  "  he  whispered. 

"  As  always.  She  has  not  slept."  Some  one 
arose  in  the  gloom  and  came  to  him. 

"Who  is  it?"  wailed  a  fretful  voice  from  the 
floor.  "  O  Fatmeh,  who  is  it  ?  Bid  him  depart." 

Shems-ud-din  went  and  knelt  beside  the  sufferer. 

"  See,  O  beloved !  I  have  brought  thee  a 
thing  thou  lovest  well — some  of  thy  chosen  per- 
fume!" 

"I  love  it  not.  I  hate  it!  I  hate  everything! 
O  Allah,  kill  me  quickly!  ...  I  would  sleep.  O 
Fatmeh,  take  my  father  away  that  I  may  sleep." 

52 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Fatmeh  followed  the  sheykh  to  the  door,  and 
clutched  his  robe. 

"  Hear  me,  O  my  lord!  "  she  whispered.  "  She 
is  not  better;  she  cannot  sleep.  What  can  one  do? 
I  will  tell  thee.  Be  not  wroth  with  thy  servant. 
There  is  a  tree  not  far  from  here — a  good  tree  and 
efficacious,  for  all  thy  frowns — one  that  has  healed 
thousands.  Let  me  tear  off  a  strip  from  her  finest 
garment  and  go  myself  and  hang  it  on  the  tree.  So, 
in  sh'  Allah,  she  will  be  healed  and  no  one  know  the 
manner  of  her  healing.  Cast  me  not  off.  Hear 
only,  I  entreat  thee.  Let  us  make  but  trial  of  the 
tree.  How  can  it  be  a  bad  tree?  Did  not  Allah 
make  it  with  the  others?  " 

"  Be  silent !  "  said  Shems-ud-din  sternly.  "  Al- 
lah forbid  that  one  of  my  house  should  commit  so 
great  an  impiety !  "  With  which  he  passed  out  from 
her  and  shut  the  door. 

By  that  time  the  evening  shadow  covered  town 
and  hillside;  only  the  summit  of  the  minaret  shone 
like  the  henna-dyed  tip  of  a  finger  pointed  heaven- 
ward. But  the  cliffs  across  the  wady  still  basked  in 
broad  sunlight.  The  figure  of  the  old  negro,  loung- 
ing in  the  archway,  stood  out  darkly  on  that  distant 
glow. 

Shems-ud-din  sat  down  in  the  entrance  and  re- 

53 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

mained  in  profound  meditation,  his  every  thought  a 
prayer;  while  the  flower  of  sunset  bloomed  and  faded 
upon  the  cliffs  beyond  the  wady,  and  blue  night  stole 
upon  the  landscape.  Then,  out  in  the  gloaming,  a 
cry  arose — a  long-sustained  yell,  breaking  anon  into 
a  wild  unearthly  chant.  It  came  from  the  minaret, 
which  the  piety  of  Shems-ud-din  himself  had  added 
to  the  little  mosque.  Its  burden  of  memories  brought 
tears  to  the  old  man's  eyes. 

He  arose  and  went  out  on  to  the  roof  of  his 
house.  A  star  sparkled  on  the  fading  green  of  sun- 
set. A  cool  breath  from  the  hills  fanned  his  cheeks. 
Falling  on  his  face  toward  the  kibleh,  he  prayed 
Allah  to  abate  something  of  his  too  great  love  for 
Alia,  which  had  broken  the  calm  of  resignation  be- 
coming his  age,  which  hung  as  a  cloud  between  him 
and  the  Creator. 

When  he  regained  the  porch,  old  Mas  was  hang- 
ing up  a  lantern  to  a  hook  on  the  wall. 

"  O  Mas,  go  to  the  house  of  the  excellent  Hassan 
Agha;  if  he  be  within,  beg  him  to  honor  me  with  his 
presence  here." 

"  No  need,"  grinned  the  black.  "  Even  now  I 
hear  his  honor's  voice  without." 

In  confirmation,  there  came  a  shout,  "  Peace  on 
this  house !  "  and  the  Guardian  of  the  Frontier  ap- 

54 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

peared  in  the  entrance  arch.  Behind  him  a  crowd  of 
heads,  but  dimly  seen,  were  bowed  reverently.  Has- 
san's men — a  fierce-eyed,  swaggering  crew — followed 
him  about  always  like  tame  dogs.  With  a  shrug 
and  his  grin,  Mas  went  off  to  pound  coffee  for  the 
invaders. 

"  What  is  this  I  hear  of  thee,  O  my  eyes?  Thou 
goest  to  El  Cuds  under  advice  of  an  angel  from 
Allah?  Shibli  told  me  the  strange  story  as  I  rode 
through  the  bazaar  at  sunset,"  said  Hassan,  after 
salutations.  "  Hopest  thou  still  for  the  girl  ?  By 
my  gun,  it  grieves  me  to  see  thee  seek  the  cause  of 
misfortune,  going  groping  like  a  blind  man,  when 
the  cause  is  plain  to  all  besides  thee.  Thou  hast  let 
the  girl  grow  between  thee  and  the  Praiseworthy; 
wherefore  the  Almighty  slays  her,  as  one  breaks  the 
small  branch  of  a  tree,  that  He  may  see  thee.  What 
do  I  with  my  mare  if  one  praises  her  too  warmly,  so 
that  my  pride  in  her  leaps  up  to  flout  the  Most  High? 
I  say  piously:  she  is  thine.  I  give  her  in  haste  to 
him  who  extols  her.  I  put  the  occasion  of  sin  from 
me.  And  so  I  would  do  with  my  daughter  did  I  sin 
through  her." 

'  The  right  is  with  thee,  O  Hassan,"  said  Shems- 
ud-din,  in  great  distress.  "  But — O  my  pearl  of 
pearls !  O  my  Alia !  O  young  moon  rising  on  my 

55 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

night  of  years!  Darkness  were  my  portion  without 
thee !  My  woman  is  dead,  and  I  have  not  the  heart 
to  enjoy  another.  My  son  is  far  away,  and  his  love 
grows  cold.  I  have  received  no  answer  from  him 
these  many  months.  But  my  Alia — she  is  here, 
my  soul  itself.  Allah  forgive  me,  I  must  try  to 
keep  her." 

"  I  say  naught  against  that,  O  my  eyes,  but  only 
against  the  extravagance  of  thy  love  for  her.  Obey 
the  angel  certainly.  The  Franks  have  skill  in  medi- 
cine— more  especially  that  tribe  of  them  which  is 
called  the  English.  One  Englishman,  who  was  in 
Kars  during  the  siege,  healed  my  father's  brother, 
and  a  thousand  others  who  were  counted  dead  of  the 
Yellow  Wind.  The  power  to  cure  is  their  inher- 
itance from  Isa  the  Prophet,  the  mighty  healer. 
Proceed  to  El  Cuds.  Thou  art  like  to  behold  thy  son 
there,  by  what  I  heard  to-day  from  the  mouth  of  a 
camel  driver  from  that  city  who  had  much  to  tell 
of  one  Abd-ur-Rahman  Bey,  an  officer  in  the  garrison, 
and  nephew  to  the  glorious  Milhem  Pasha.  It  can 
mean  no  other  than  our  friend,  thy  son.  He  came 
thither  from  Istanbul  three  months  ago." 

;'  Three  months!  "  ejaculated  Shems-ud-din,  with 
downcast  eyes. 

'  Yes,  certainly  thou  must  journey  to  El  Cuds,  if 

56 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

only  that  the  sight  of  him  may  refresh  thy  soul.  But 
tell  me,  O  my  dear,  what  is  the  right  of  this  story 
of  an  angel?  Shibli  said  only  that  an  angel  had  ap- 
peared to  thee,  and  bidden  thee  take  him  (Shibli)  to 
El  Cuds,  for  the  sake  of  Alia,  somehow." 

"  Not  so,"  said  Shems-ud-din.  "  The  truth  is 
quite  otherwise.  Indeed,  it  is  more  likely  that  he  who 
appeared  to  me  was  a  devil."  Therewith  he  told 
the  plain  story,  the  Circassians  listening  with  open 
mouths. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah  !  A  jinni,  very  surely,"  said  Has- 
san, at  the  end.  "  I  myself  observed  something  pe- 
culiar in  his  aspect.  Not  often  is  so  long  a  train  of 
camels  sent  forth  without  money  in  the  hands  of  the 
drivers.  Yet — believe  it,  who  can  ! — on  three  men, 
having  charge  of  more  than  fifty  camels,  we  found 
but  half  a  bishlik,  two  poor  knives,  one  brass  button, 
and  a  bottle — a  very  small  bottle — of  attar  of  roses. 
No  doubt,  but  the  man  was  an  afrit,  who  spoke  with 
thee.  Devils  love  to  attack  a  saint,  just  as  I  would 
rather  kill  a  big,  strong  Bedawi  than  a  little  weak 
one,  when  it  comes  to  avenging  their  slaughter  of  my 
two  sons.  Yet  fear  not,  O  my  soul !  A  man  of  thy 
works  can  laugh  at  all  the  Jan.  I  myself  will  journey 
with  thee,  and,  while  the  Frank  physician  heals  thy 
daughter,  I,  with  Allah's  help,  will  procure  new  rifles 

57 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

for  my  comrades,  a  great  supply  being  lately  come 
to  the  garrison  there." 

Hassan  paused  to  think  awhile,  stroking  his  heavy 
white  mustache. 

"  Yes;  a  devil,  very  certainly;  perhaps  even  Eblis 
in  person — Allah  knows!  The  thing  is  proved. 
You  have  heard,  all  of  you  here,  how  a  devil  cannot 
profit  by  the  gift  of  a  holy  one;  how  the  gift  will 
presently  return  from  him  ?  Well,  behold  this  small 
bottle  of  attar  of  roses !  " 

He  held  up  the  phial  so  that  all  could  see.  A 
shudder  of  applause  ran  round  the  circle. 


CHAPTER  II 

Two  hours  before  daybreak,  Mas,  the  negro, 
stood  on  the  hill  of  ruins  with  a  donkey  saddled  and 
bridled.  One  of  his  hands  grasped  the  tail  of  the  ass 
for  insurance  against  braying;  the  other  held  a  lan- 
tern, its  rays  diverted  from  the  house  of  Shems-ud- 
din.  Mas  looked  up  at  the  stars  with  a  dissatisfied 
grunt.  He  observed  in  his  soul : 

"  Now  Allah  correct  all  women!  She  whispers, 
4  At  the  seventh  hour  be  ready  for  Alia's  sake,'  and 
I  leave  my  couch  and  the  comfort  God  sends  to  me  in 
dreams — the  rich  banquet  and  the  palace  of  gurgling 
fountains,  the  sweet  brides,  and  my  youth  restored — 
I  forsake  all  that,  because  of  her  whispering,  and  I 
saddle  the  ass  and  take  light  in  my  hand,  and  stand 
out  here  in  the  chill " 

A  noise  of  cautious  and  uncertain  footsteps  here 
broke  his  reflections.  He  stood  intent  to  listen.  All 
at  once  came  the  rattle  of  stones  displaced,  a  thud, 
a  smothered  scream.  Promptly  he  turned  the  lan- 
tern so  as  to  throw  light  on  the  disaster. 

A  woman,  closely  veiled  and  muffled,  rose  slowly 
up  from  off  a  heap  of  refuse. 

59 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"Is  it  thou,  O  Mas?  Praise  to  Allah!  Say,' 
what  was  it  smote  me  that  I  fell?  " 

"  Come,"  said  Mas  simply. 

Fatmeh  tottered  forward  and  clutched  tight  hold 
of  the  negro. 

"  O  Mas,  I  dare  go  no  farther.  Take  thou  this 
piece  of  raiment — the  raiment  of  the  beloved — and 
go  and  hang  it  on  the  blessed  tree." 

"Alone?"  Mas  laughed  to  scorn  the  notion. 
"  I  love  the  dear  one,  but  go  alone  by  night  to  a 
chosen  haunt  of  devils,  I  will  not!  In  the  daytime 
ask  me." 

"  Allah  forbid !  Is  it  not  a  secret  for  the  dark 
to  hide  that  thou  sayest  '  in  the  daytime  '  ?  '  The 
daytime !  '  Allah,  listen !  " 

"  Since  our  lord  gave  thee  leave  to  go,  what  is 
to  hide?" 

"  Leave !  Allah  knows  he  has  given  leave 
enough.  A  sin,  indeed,  if  recourse  might  be  had  to 
Prankish  wizards  and  not  to  that  gentle  tree !  " 

"  Then  come.     We  waste  time." 

Seeing  she  would  still  have  tarried,  scolding,  Mas 
lifted  her  up  and  placed  her  bodily  upon  the  donkey's 
back.  Then  taking  the  headrope  in  his  hand,  he 
strode  forward. 

No  sooner  did  Fatmeh  recover  breath  than  she 
60 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

began  to  inveigh  against  all  male  creatures,  but  prin- 
cipally those  on  whom  the  wrath  of  God  is  manifest 
in  a  black  hide.  Things,  she  declared,  were  come 
to  a  pretty  pass  when  a  slave  dared  order  the  goings 
of  his  mistress,  and  carry  her  whither  she  would  not. 
But  to  all  her  tirades  Mas  replied  tranquilly : 

"  Since  when  art  thou  my  lady?  Thou  art  not 
all  thou  wouldst  be." 

After  a  time  words  failed  her.  Only  a  moan, 
when  some  exceptional  roughness  made  her  bump  the 
pack  saddle,  assured  Mas  that  she  was  still  there  be- 
hind him.  At  length  she  besought  him,  whimpering: 

"  O  Mas,  speak  to  me;  I  am  afraid.  Tell  me,  O 
kind  Mas,  a  story  to  beguile  the  way." 

"  I  know  no  story." 

"  Sing  then.    For  the  love  of  Allah,  sing  a  little." 

"  I  will  not;  for  the  jan  love  music.  When  the 
day  comes,  then  perhaps  I  will  sing." 

Fatmeh  appealed  to  Allah  against  such  hardness 
of  heart.  She  looked  up  at  the  stars  for  comfort. 
But  the  folds  of  her  veil  obscured  the  view  of  them, 
and  when  she  looked  down  again  the  darkness  seemed 
alive.  Save  the  clap  of  her  donkey's  hoofs,  there 
was  no  sound  audible  upon  those  unseen  hills.  The 
ray  from  the  lantern  danced  on  ahead  like  an  evil 
spirit.  All  at  once,  to  her  horror,  the  dark  earth 
5  61 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

yawned  before  her,  spinning  dizzily  to  a  shape,  like 
clay  upon  the  potter's  wheel.  In  a  trice  there  was  a 
vast  black  bowl,  in  whose  depths  glowed  fire,  small 
specks  that  grew  and  joined,  dwindled,  and  grew 
again  till  all  else  vanished.  She  lurched  forward, 
groping  for  Mas;  but  in  the  gloom  her  hands  missed 
him,  and  she  fell  to  the  ground. 

When  she  came  to  herself  again,  she  was  dazzled 
by  the  light  of  the  lantern  shining  full  in  her  eyes. 
Mas  bent  over  her,  his  black  face  burnished  in  the 
light. 

"¥'  Allah!  What  ails  thee?  Come,  arise, 
I  say." 

She  moaned:  "Woe  on  us!  The  fires!  The 
fires  of  punishment !  " 

"  Ah !  "  smiled  Mas,  as  seeing  light  at  last. 
"  There  is  a  camp  down  there  in  that  wady — 
whether  of  the  Bedu  or  the  gypsies,  Allah  knows. 
Now  come,  since  thou  art  not  dead." 

Again  he  lifted  her  on  to  the  broad  saddle. 
Again  an  impenetrable  darkness  closed  about  them. 
But  she  was  no  more  afraid.  Having  passed  the  ex- 
treme of  horror,  whole  by  a  miracle,  all  else  that 
might  befall  seemed  light  to  bear. 

A  whiteness  crept  up  somewhere  behind  the  night. 
Soon,  with  the  vagueness  and  the  ceaseless  jogging, 

62 


she  fell  asleep,  and  awoke  to  find  herself  in  a  plain, 
somewhat  cup-shaped,  rimmed  with  jagged  rocks. 
Something  gaunt  and  monstrous,  which  appeared 
writhing,  yet  was  still,  stood  in  the  way  against  them. 
It  was  the  tree. 

With  a  thankful  heart  she  slid  down  from  off  the 
bruising  saddle.  She  took  from  her  bosom  the  strip 
of  Alia's  raiment  and  gave  it  to  Mas,  who  was  tall 
and  could  reach  the  branches. 

"  It  is  finished,"  he  said  presently,  with  satisfac- 
tion. 

Light  increased  with  every  minute.  Mas,  hav- 
ing put  out  the  lantern,  withdrew  from  her  and  went 
and  knelt  upon  the  ground,  his  left  shoulder  toward 
the  dawn.  But  Fatmeh,  sitting  huddled  beneath  the 
magic  tree,  knew  not,  nor  cared  to  know,  what  he 
was  doing.  She  wept  in  repentance  of  her  great 
audacity. 

She  was  aroused  by  a  sound  unexpected  and  ter- 
rible— the  gallop  of  many  steeds.  The  noise  drew 
near  apace.  A  voice  cried: 

"  Halt  at  the  tree  and  rest." 

At  that  she  flung  herself  face  downward  upon  the 
ground  and  knew  no  more,  until  a  conversation  arose 
so  close  to  her  that  it  was  matter  for  wonder  how  the 
speakers  escaped  contact  with  her  body. 

63 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  It  is  a  Bedawi,  I  say." 

"  It  is  some  beast." 

"  Pronounce,  O  Nesib  the  Thief,  thou  lord  of 
two  good  eyes.  What  seest  thou  ?  " 

"  I  see  nothing  marvelous.  Yonder  is  a  man  in 
white  raiment,  praying  toward  Mekka.  And  here, 
not  far  distant,  is  a  black  donkey  at  grass,  bearing  a 
pack  saddle,  but  no  load  thereon." 

"  Ha,  ha !  Is  there  light  to  tell  black  from 
white?" 

"  Others  may  not,  but  the  Thief  can  surely." 

"  The  man  is  a  Bedawi.  Let  us  take  his  head 
with  the  others.  So  shall  my  sons  be  avenged.  Praise 
be  to  Allah!  We  know  now  that  they  go  to  El 
Cuds,  these  dogs;  and  we  go  also  to  El  Cuds.  Are 
they  not  between  our  two  hands?  .  .  .  Yon  wretch 
has  finished  his  prayers.  Let  us  slay  him  and  reap 
his  head.  .  .  .  What  kind  of  man  is  he?  I  can- 
not see  for  the  light  beyond." 

Fatmeh  could  bear  it  no  longer.  She  screamed 
aloud  in  her  alarm  for  Mas.  Immediately  she  was 
seized  and  lifted,  struggling,  to  her  feet.  Men 
thronged  upon  her.  She  smelt  men  and  horses. 

They  had  pulled  aside  her  veil,  yet  knew  not  who 
she  was;  not  one  of  them  had  seen  her  face  before. 
Her  knees  gave  way,  her  tongue  clove  to  the  roof 

64 


THE    HOUSE    OF   ISLAM 

of  her  mouth.  She  could  only  moan  and  whimper 
under  indignities,  and  think  with  terror  of  the  Sheykh 
Shems-ud-din.  For  disobedience  this  shame  was 
come  upon  her. 

"Stop!  Hold  your  hands!  .  .  .  O  my  lord 
Hassan,  I  beseech  thee,  let  her  go.  She  is  of 
the  house  of  my  master,  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-dm," 
cried  the  voice  of  a  man  out  of  breath — the  voice 
of  Mas. 

On  the  instant,  as  it  seemed  to  her,  she  was  free. 
She  straightened  her  veil,  clutching  for  support  at  the 
saddle  of  the  horse  nearest  to  her.  But  instead  of 
the  saddle  her  touch  encountered  the  bristled  skin 
of  a  head — a  man's  head.  She  gave  one  look  ere 
her  shriek  went  forth.  There  were  two  of  them, 
with  bloated  tongues  protruding. 

At  her  cries  a  laugh  went  up  from  the  horsemen. 

"Wilt  ride  with  me?"  asked  Hassan  Agha. 
"  It  falls  not  often  to  the  lot  of  woman  to  roll  two 
men's  heads  at  once  upon  her  knees.  Have  no  fear, 
my  daughter.  They  shall  not  bite  thee.  .  .  .  Nesib 
and  thou,  All,  stay  and  guard  these  people.  Be 
mindful  to  use  them  with  respect  for  the  sake  of  the 
saintly  Shems-ud-din,  to  whose  house  they  belong. 
Allah  be  with  you." 

He  had  risen  in  the  act  to  spur  his  horse,  when 

65 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Fatmeh,  repressing  her  terror  of  the  ghastly  heads, 
caught  his  stirrup. 

"  O  my  lord !  "  she  entreated,  "  of  thy  goodness 
breathe  no  word  to  the  sheykh,  my  master.  He 
knows  naught  of  my  coming  hither " 

Hassan  cut  short  her  prayer  with  a  loud  laugh. 

''  Then  say  nothing  to  thy  lord  of  my  two  heads. 
Call  it  a  bargain,  O  my  dear!  " 

And  he  rode  off  at  speed  with  his  men  in  the 
sun's  first  rays. 


66 


CHAPTER  III 

WHEN  Shems-ud-din  set  forth  from  the  town, 
there  was  great  excitement.  Babes  were  held  up  by 
their  parents  to  watch  the  saint  ride  by.  A  cry  arose 
that  he  should  bless  the  place;  and  he  did  so,  sitting 
on  his  old  white  horse,  adorned  with  old  trappings 
of  scarlet  and  light  blue  and  gold  which  had  not 
seen  service  for  twenty  years.  The  little  city  on  its 
hillside,  then,  in  the  early  sunlight,  looked  restful  as 
a  flock  of  sheep  at  noon.  There  were  tears  in  the 
sheykh's  eyes  as  he  turned  and  rode  away. 

He  rode  alone,  with  eyes  downcast,  his  beard 
upon  his  breast,  never  far  from  the  palanquin  which 
contained  Alia  and  her  nurse.  Shibli,  in  the  pride 
of  youth,  galloped  ahead  with  the  Circassians,  the 
sunshine  glancing  from  their  accouterments  as  they 
darted  in  and  out  of  the  shadows  flung  by  great  rocks 
across  their  path. 

The  poles  of  the  women's  litter  were  borne  by 
two  mules,  one  in  front  and  one  behind.  Beside  the 
hinder  trudged  Mas,  armed  with  a  long  goad.  He 
crooned  as  he  walked  a  sad  song  without  end,  some 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

echo  of  his  long-lost  childhood  in  hot  Darfur.  Now 
and  then  a  groan  came  from  within  the  litter,  and 
Fatmeh  was  heard  soothing  her  charge.  Once  the 
curtains  parted,  and  Alia  looked  forth  smiling  at 
her  father. 

"  How  is  thy  health?  "  he  asked  earnestly. 

"  The  better  for  being  free  of  that  dark  chamber, 
that  hateful  town,  always  the  same  smells,  the  same 
thoughts.  Now,  in  the  sun  and  sweet  air,  I  am  well, 
O  my  father!" 

"  In  sh'  Allah !  "  murmured  Shems-ud-din,  and 
he  bowed  his  head. 

But  as  the  heat  increased,  and  shadows  shrank 
away,  nothing  but  moans  came  from  within  the  palan- 
quin. The  Circassians,  tired  of  display,  came  back 
one  by  one.  Shibli,  ranging  his  steed  alongside  that 
of  Shems-ud-din,  prattled  incessantly  without  regard 
for  his  listener.  The  sheykh  heard  the  talk  around 
him  as  a  buzzing  of  flies. 

"  What  gift  bearest  thou  to  the  Frank  physician, 
O  Nesib?"  cried  one  of  the  riders  to  his  comrade 
near  at  hand. 

"  A  fine  one,  O  my  eyes !  I  bear  an  old-time  gar- 
ment, the  best  of  my  inheritance.  It  belonged  to  my 
father's  father,  and  has  been  as  an  heirloom  in  the 
family." 

68 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Capital !  Allah  will  give  to  thee.  .  .  .  For 
my  part,  I  take  a  trifle,  a  mere  nothing.  The  chief's 
command  was  on  every  man  to  bring  some  present  in 
his  hand.  And  I  had  nothing,  being  a  young  one, 
newly  married.  But  I  remembered  to  have  seen 
clouds  of  bees  upon  a  certain  rock  in  the  wady  be- 
low our  house.  So  I  went,  bearing  fire  with  me, 
and  slew  those  bees  and  took  their  honey,  a  portion 
of  which  is  here  in  my  saddlebags.  My  woman 
wrapped  it  for  me  and  put  it  in  a  jar.  In  sh'  Allah, 
the  infidel  will  accept  of  it." 

"  In  sh'  Allah,  but  it  is  no  great  thing,"  returned 
he  of  the  garment. 

They  proceeded  by  the  easiest  and  clearest  road, 
which  was  also  by  much  the  longest,  so  that  for  the 
sake  of  the  litter  they  spent  four  hours  upon  a  dis- 
tance which  the  horsemen  alone  could  have  covered 
in  less  than  two. 

At  length  they  reached  a  little  plain,  or  cup- 
shaped  hollow,  among  the  hills,  in  the  midst  of 
which  stood  an  ancient  terebinth  full  three  parts 
dead.  A  number  of  rags  hanging  from  the  with- 
ered branches  gave  to  that  tree  a  curious  bearded 
look. 

"  We  will  halt  awhile  in  its  shade,"  said  Hassan, 
who  had  assumed  the  chief  command.  "  The  sun 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

is  hot;  and  after  a  little,  Allah  sends  to  us  the  midday 
breeze,  when  it  will  be  more  pleasant  riding." 

At  that  Shibli,  with  a  shout,  set  off  galloping 
toward  the  tree.  At  his  shout  a  flight  of  small  birds 
forsook  its  branches  and  flew,  wavering,  with  faint 
tweets,  toward  the  northern  hillside.  With  a  scream 
of  delight,  the  youth  unslung  the  gun  from  his  back, 
leveled  it,  and  fired  after  the  birds.  In  a  second  his 
horse  was  standing  on  its  hind  legs,  and  he  himself  lay 
on  his  back  among  the  stones.  His  gun  had  flown  a 
great  way  off,  in  another  direction. 

A  roar  of  laughter  went  up  from  the  cavalcade. 
The  Women  peeped  forth,  tittering,  between  the  cur- 
tains of  the  palanquin.  Only  Shems-ud-din  betrayed 
concern. 

"Art  hurt,  O  my  son?"  he  inquired,  dismount- 
ing amid  a  general  stampede  in  chase  of  Shibli's 
horse,  which  was  by  that  time  careering  madly 
across  the  plain,  showing  the  flat  of  its  hind  hoofs 
to  the  pursuit. 

'  This  is  a  lesson,"  said  Hassan  Agha,  chuckling. 
"  Boys  must  learn  from  Allah !  Did  not  I  warn  thee 
to  have  a  care  in  handling  thy  gun?  Did  not  I  tell 
thee  how  to  sit  for  firing — bridle  dropped,  feet  for- 
ward, pressing  the  stirrups?  Yet  when  the  time 
came,  thy  feet  were  somewhere  behind  thee  and  thou 

70 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

didst  drag  up  the  bridle.  Another  time,  perhaps, 
thou  wilt  remember." 

Shibli  arose,  crestfallen,  tears  trickling  down  his 
cheeks.  He  admitted  with  shame  that  he  was  un- 
hurt. 

The  litter  was  set  down  in  the  shade.  The  beasts 
were  hobbled  and  turned  loose.  The  men  who  had 
gone  in  pursuit  of  the  runaway  returned  successful, 
their  horses  panting  and  half-blind  with  sweat.  All 
crowded  together  beneath  the  tree. 

Shems-ud-din  sat  with  his  back  to  the  trunk,  where 
the  shade  was  darkest.  It  was  nowhere  a  continuous 
blot  of  shade,  but  rather  like  a  net  enmeshing  forms 
and  faces.  Nesib  the  Thief,  who  had  brought  a 
waterskin  along  with  him,  gave  to  drink  in  a  horn 
cup,  to  the  sheykh  first,  and  then  to  all  the  company; 
not  forgetting  the  women,  upon  whose  needs  Mas 
waited. 

By  and  by,  as  they  sat  in  drowsy  converse,  came 
a  sighing  of  the  branches  overhead.  Flowers  that 
grew  among  the  stones  swayed  a  little.  It  was  as 
though  a  cool  hand  fell  on  every  brow.  The  breeze 
which  tempers  noon  had  found  them  out. 

Throughout  the  halt  Shems-ud-din  gazed  straight 
before  him,  or  else  upon  the  ground  at  his  feet.  Not 
until  Hassan  gave  the  word  to  remount  did  he  raise 

71 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

his  eyes  in  thanksgiving  for  that  half-hour's  re- 
freshment. They  remained  fixed  in  awful  con- 
templation. 

From  the  lowest  branch  of  the  tree,  just  over- 
head, hung  a  strip  of  brightness,  fluttering,  among 
other  similar  strips  by  no  means  bright.  This  strip 
was  new,  the  rest  were  very  old.  Moreover,  a  sun- 
beam threading  the  maze  of  twigs  had  singled  it  out 
for  illumination.  The  sheykh  stared  and  stared. 
Those  colors — green  and  white  in  stripes,  with  a  slen- 
der thread  of  crimson  down  the  green — were  most 
familiar.  He  had  bought  a  piece  of  silk  of  that 
pattern  not  long  ago  of  a  traveling  merchant,  and 
had  made  -of  it  a  garment  for  Alia. 

He  turned  toward  the  litter.  A  hush  had  fallen 
on  the  group  around  him. 

"  O  Fatmeh,  come  forth !  Whence  is  this  silken 
rag  ?  How  comes  it  to  hang  here  ?  " 

"Rag!  What  rag?"  screamed  the  woman, 
creeping  out  through  the  curtains.  "  Allah  witness! 
What  have  I  to  do  with  it?  Is  it  my  tree  that  I 
should  be  held  accountable  for  all  that  grows  on  it? 
Allah  forbid!  .  .  ." 

Her  voice,  which  had  arisen  shrill  and  brazen, 
soon  quavered  and  broke.  The  grins  of  the  Cir- 
cassians cut  the  ground  from  under  her.  She  fell 

72 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

on  her  face  before  Shems-ud-din,  in  a  paroxysm  of 
repentance. 

"  How  often  have  I  forbidden  thee  all  traffic  with 
this  tree?  A  wrong  to  myself  I  had  forgiven;  but 
this  is  an  insult  to  the  providence  of  God.  Hence- 
forth I  wash  my  two  hands  of  thee.  Return  to  thy 
kindred,  and  may  Allah  bless  thee !  " 

Fatmeh  rolled  on  the  ground  in  convulsions  of 
shame  and  grief.  She  shrieked  to  the  bystanders  to 
slay  her  then  and  there.  But  the  sheykh  stood  by 
his  horse,  obdurate.  He  surveyed  her  contortions 
without  mercy,  till  a  new  voice  of  lamentation  smote 
his  ear. 

"O  Lord!  ...  O  my  father!  .  .  ..Be  not  so 
wicked !  .  .  .  O  Allah,  turn  my  father's  heart  to 
pity!  Wouldst  thou  slay  me  quite,  now,  imme- 
diately? Thou  knowest  I  am  nothing  without  Fat- 
meh! I  will  die — yes,  die  now — and  punish  thy 
wickedness.  Oh,  woe  upon  us !  Woe !  Woe !  " 

The  thin  face  of  Alia  looked  forth  unveiled  be- 
tween the  curtains.  It  was  distorted  with  pain  and 
fury,  most  ugly  to  look  upon.  Shibli  made  a  wry 
face  behind  her  father's  back.  It  was  the  first  time 
for  many  months  that  he  had  seen  the  likeness  of  his 
betrothed. 

The  sheykh  stood  gaping,  at  a  loss  for  a  word. 
73 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Arise,  O  woman,  and  resume  thy  place  beside 
her,"  he  said  at  last  lamely. 

The  spectators  smiled  and  shrugged  shoulders 
one  at  another.  But  in  a  moment  their  looks 
changed  to  horror. 

The  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  lifted  his  right  arm 
and,  taking  hold  of  the  bright  rag,  pulled  with  might. 
The  silk  tore  with  the  shriek  of  a  living  thing.  He 
threw  it  away  and  straight  remounted  his  horse,  heed- 
less of  the  piercing  cries  of  Fatmeh. 


74 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  first  night  of  travel  was  spent  at  a  village 
occupied  by  a  colony  of  Circassians.  Here,  nat- 
urally, they  met  with  a  warm  welcome.  The  guest 
chamber  of  the  head  man  was  allotted  to  Hassan  and 
Shems-ud-din ;  Alia  and  Fatmeh  were  accommodated 
in  the  same  house;  and  the  rest  of  the  party  found 
hospitable  quarters,  though  the  most  part  slept,  from 
choice,  under  the  open  sky. 

Shems-ud-din  retired  early,  craving  leave  to 
mount  to  the  housetop  and  drink  the  fresh  air  of 
night.  For  long  he  paced  the  terrace  roof  in  the 
darkness,  then  sat  crosslegged  awhile,  then,  as  his 
limbs  felt  cramp,  arose  and  walked  again. 

The  great  heart  of  the  night  beat  loud  in  his  ears, 
and  he  fancied  he  could  hear  respirations,  as  its  cool 
breath  fanned  his  cheeks. 

By  and  by  the  eastern  hill  grew  black  and  immi- 
nent; a  coronal  of  light  appeared;  and  the  moon 
pushed  up  her  horn,  a  golden  spearpoint  against  the 
stars.  The  flat-roofed  houses  took  shape  suddenly, 
cube  by  cube.  A  minute  since  they  had  been  lost 

75 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

in  night's  mystery,   at  one  with  the  dim  hills,  the 
starry  sky. 

Shems-ud-din's  prayer  ceased  not.  He  prayed 
for  strength  in  submission.  An  instant  fear  haunted 
him,  making  this  night  most  terrible.  He  thought 
that  God  would  take  the  life  of  Alia  at  once,  with- 
out delay,  and  so  ratify  the  covenant  of  the  tree.  In 
tearing  down  the  idolatrous  rag  from  off  the  branch, 
he  had  accepted  his  daughter's  death  at  the  hand  of 
the  Lord.  He  prayed  for  perfect  resignation.  But 
a  wish  would  outrun  the  prayer — oh,  that  Allah 
would  appoint  some  other  victim,  as  He  did  of  old 
for  Ibrahim,  His  friend ! 

With  the  first  dawn  he  went  down  into  the  house 
to  wash  before  the  morning  prayer.  When  his  host 
inquired  if  he  had  spent  a  happy  night,  he  answered 
Yes,  and  thanked  him  kindly.  Alia  yet  lived;  nay, 
Fatmeh  pronounced  her  better  than  on  their  ar- 
rival the  evening  before.  So  the  sunrise  smiled  to 
him. 

That  day  their  road  led  through  a  forest  of  tere- 
binths, not  dense,  but  growing  singly,  or  else  by 
clumps  of  two  and  three.  The  path  was  pied  with 
shade,  affording  a  pleasant  diversity;  and  Alia  often 
looked  out  from  the  palanquin  with  cheerful  words 
to  her  father. 

76 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

It  was  late  afternoon  when  they  came  forth  from 
among  the  trees.  From  a  bald  crown  they  surveyed 
a  waste  of  yellow  hills  tossed  and  crumpled  in  the 
likeness  of  a  stormy  sea.  They  halted,  without  dis- 
mounting, to  inhale  the  keen  air  of  those  high- 
lands. 

Of  a  sudden  Hassan  laughed  out,  and  pointed  to 
the  valley  right  below  them.  In  the  midst  of  a  green- 
stained  dell  swelled  a  brown  mound,  in  shape  nearly 
oval.  By  one  end  of  the  mound  moved  a  camel,  by 
the  other  a  man. 

"  He  must  have  been  to  sleep,"  laughed  Hassan, 
"  and  have  let  go  the  rope.  And  now  if  he  catch  it 
ere  the  Day  of  Judgment,  it  will  surprise  me." 

When  the  man  stole  round  to  one  side  of  the 
hillock,  his  camel,  which  till  then  had  been  browsing 
peacefully,  lifted  its  head  and  stepped  round  to  the 
other.  They  could  see  the  headrope  dangling  as 
it  ran. 

The  man  stood  still,  in  thought  apparently;  for 
soon,  as  if  struck  by  a  new  idea,  he  started  to  climb 
the  mound.  From  the  top  he  caught  sight  of  the 
camel  beneath  him,  placidly  chewing.  They  could 
hear  his  yell  of  triumph  as  he  rushed  down  upon  it. 
But  he  pitched  headlong — and  by  the  time  he  reached 
level  ground  his  camel  was  not  there. 
6  77 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

The  man  sat  nursing  himself. 

"  Now  he  weeps,  I  assure  you,"  cried  Hassan, 
exultant. 

"  Let  us  go  down  and  help  the  poor  man,"  said 
Shems-ud-din. 

"  No,  that  we  will  not!  It  were  a  sin!  But  I 
am  with  thee,  my  dear,  to  go  down  and  hear  his  tale. 
It  must  be  a  rare  one.  Ma  sh'  Allah !  " 

Already  Shibli  and  the  younger  men  were  urging 
their  horses  down  the  steep  decline.  Old  Hassan 
followed  at  a  breakneck  pace.  Only  Shems-ud-din 
and  Mas  the  negro  stayed  by  the  litter.  Care  for 
the  sick  girl  obliging  them  to  descend  very  slowly, 
step  by  step,  by  the  time  thty  reached  the  foot  the 
rest  of  the  party  had  been  some  time  gathered  round 
the  lord  of  that  froward  camel.  Shems-ud-din  drew 
near  the  group. 

The  fellah  was  about  finishing  his  tale  of  woe. 
He  moaned  : 

"  O  Lord,  I  possess  but  this  one  only,  and  a 
person  in  Es-Salt,  the  lord  of  much  wealth,  would 
buy  him  of  me  for  a  journey  he  makes  to-morrow. 
The  price  offered  is  a  high  one.  I  would  fain  receive 
it.  But  to-morrow  will  be  too  late;  the  merchant  will 
have  gone  his  way.  Would  to  Allah  I  had  not  lain 
down  to  sleep !  Would  that  I  had  never  been  born 

78 


THE    HOUSE    OF   ISLAM 

to  need  sleep  upon  the  earth  !  Be  kind  now,  I  entreat 
you,  O  my  masters !  Help  me  to  recover  my  camel." 

But  the  Circassians,  and  Shibli  with  them,  mocked 
his  anguish,  saying: 

"  We  sympathize  with  thee,  that  is  understood. 
But  we  be  plain  men.  We  meddle  not  with  signs 
and  wonders.  Who  ever  saw  the  like  of  this  thy 
quandary?  Surely  it  is  upon  thee  from  the  hand 
of  Allah." 

At  that  the  poor  man  put  his  knuckles  to  his  eyes 
and  wept  aloud,  cursing  the  stock  of  men  so  heartless. 

Shems-ud-din  frowned  upon  their  wickedness. 
He  was  about  to  use  his  authority  on  the  man's 
behalf  when  lo !  the  camel  itself  came  striding  round 
a  shoulder  of  the  hill  and  stood  within  a  few  paces  of 
him.  The  rest  beheld  not  the  chance,  intent  on  their 
evil  game. 

Very  quietly  the  sheykh  walked  his  horse  toward 
the  great  beast,  which  watched  his  approach  without 
concern,  nor  demurred  even  when  he  grasped  the 
headrope. 

"O  fellah,  behold  thy  camel!" 

For  a  moment  all  were  petrified.  Then  wild 
cries  arose:  "  A  wonder!  " — "  A  sign  from  Allah!  " 
— "  The  Lord  has  ordained  a  miracle  at  the  hand  of 
the  saintly  Shems-ud-din !  " — "  Run,  O  poor  man ! 

79 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Make  haste   to  kiss   the   earth  between  his   horse's 
feet!" 

The  fellah  did  as  they  bade  him.  He  ran,  and 
falling  on  the  ground,  flattened  himself  before  the 
horse  of  Shems-ud-din,  crying: 

"  Deign  to  ride  over  me,  O  favored  of  Allah ! 
Behold,  I  am  the  dust  of  thy  pathway !  " 

The  sheykh  made  him  rise,  and  explained  to  him 
the  occurrence  as  most  natural.  "  Seeing  thou  hadst 
ceased  from  pursuing,  thy  camel  tired  of  playing 
alone  and  came  of  his  own  accord  to  look  for 
thee." 

But  the  owner  of  the  camel  would  not  be  con- 
vinced, any  more  than  would  the  bystanders,  that  the 
event  was  less  than  a  miracle.  The  Circassians  con- 
gratulated one  another,  whispering : 

"  Now  is  it  clear  that  he  knows  the  language  of 
beasts;  for  how  else  could  he  read  the  mind  of  this 
camel,  that  he  is  tired  of  playing  alone  ?  By  Allah, 
he  is  no  less  than  a  prophet.  Praise  to  the  Highest, 
who  has  made  us  his  companions." 

"Where  sleep  you  to-night?  "  asked  the  camel's 
master,  wiping  his  eyes  on  the  sleeve  of  his  robe. 

They  answered  him:  "At  Es-  Salt,  whither  thou 
also  goest." 

"  Good.     Then  I  travel  with  you." 
80 


THE    HOUSE    OF   ISLAM 

Throughout  the  rest  of  the  journey,  which  was 
very  monotonous,  the  eyes  of  that  fellah  dwelt  upon 
Shems-ud-din,  raptly  staring  as  at  a  vision.  In  the 
town  of  Es-Salt  it  would  have  been  hard  to  find  a 
lodging  for  the  women,  since  the  only  khan  was  filled 
with  a  caravan  bound  to  Busra  from  the  Holy  City; 
but  this  man  took  them  to  the  house  of  a  friend  of 
his,  who,  on  hearing  the  case  explained,  turned  out 
with  his  family  into  the  adjoining  stable,  and  so  made 
room  for  them.  And  when  Shems-ud-din  arose  in 
the  morning  and  looked  forth,  there  was  this  same 
man  squatting  patiently  beside  the  threshold. 

At  sight  of  the  sheykh,  he  fell  down  and  kissed 
his  feet. 

"  May  thy  day  be  happy,  O  my  master!  I  seek 
a  boon  of  thee.  Grant  me  but  leave  to  journey  with 
thee  to  the  Holy  Place.  I  will  be  no  charge  upon 
thee;  for  I  have  this  hour  received  the  price  of  my 
camel." 

"  But  thy  business! — thy  house! — thy  woman!  " 

'  Those  are  always  with  me.  They  await  my 
return.  But  as  for  thee,  thou  passest.  It  is  an  occa- 
sion to  be  seized." 

"But — Merciful  Allah! — I  travel  not  for  pas- 
time, O  my  son." 

"  I  know,  O  my  lord.  Thy  companions  have 
81 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

already  told  me;  and  I  sorrow  with  thee.  How  is 
the  health  of  the  lady,  thy  daughter,  this  morning?  " 

"  In  sh'  Allah,  it  is  no  worse.  She  yet  lives," 
said  Shems-ud-din  sadly. 

"  May  Allah  heal  her  quickly!  Deign  now  to 
give  me  the  saddlebags.  I  will  make  ready  the  horse 
for  thy  Grace." 

He  would  not  be  gainsaid. 


82 


CHAPTER  V 

WHEN  the  cavalcade  assembled  without  the  town, 
this  new  companion  came  riding  upon  the  sorriest  ass 
ever  seen,  which,  it  transpired,  he  had  borrowed  from 
a  friend.  He  took  all  the  laughter  at  his  expense 
in  excellent  part. 

His  name,  he  said,  was  Zeyd  the  son  of  Abbas. 
He  had  been  born  in  El  Arish,  toward  the  country  of 
Masr,  but  had  not  beheld  that  place  for  many  years. 
Bred  to  the  calling  of  a  muleteer,  he  had  led  a  wan- 
dering life  from  childhood.  It  was  now  three  years 
since  he  had  settled  down  in  a  certain  village,  about 
six  hours  distant  from  the  spot  where  they  had  found 
him  at  hide  and  seek  with  his  camel.  He  had  taken 
to  wife  a  girl  of  that  place,  and  was  fairly  prosper- 
ous as  poor  men  reckon. 

Not  half  of  all  he  said  reached  Shems-ud-din's 
ears,  which  were  strained  toward  the  palanquin;  but 
a  word  of  courteous  acquiescence  contented  Zeyd. 

They  came  to  the  end  of  the  highlands  in  a  bare 
brown  shoulder  thrust  out  over  a  chasm  wide  and 
deep,  no  mere  wady  of  the  hills  like  those  they  had 

83 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

hitherto  traversed,  but  a  trench  cut  below  the  surface 
of  the  world.  It  parted  the  mountain  lands  to  east 
and  west.  Upon  the  plain  in  its  depths,  through 
mists  of  heat,  they  could  see  the  belt  of  foliage  coil- 
ing like  a  snake,  which  marked  the  course  of  the 
river.  In  the  south,  at  no  great  distance,  the  valley 
widened  to  inclose  a  dazzling  sheet  the  eye  avoided, 
a  memorial  of  God's  wrath,  the  Sea  of  Lot. 

Here  they  came  up  with  the  Circassians  and 
Shibli,  who  had  stopped  for  consultation. 

"  What  sayest  thou,  O  my  dear?  "  cried  Hassan. 
"  Shall  we  rest  to-night  in  the  plain  yonder;  or,  for 
the  day  is  yet  young,  shall  we  push  on  nearer  to  El 
Cuds?  Decide,  I  pray  thee." 

"  Let  us  hasten  onward,"  replied  Shems-ud-din. 

His  prayer  all  yesterday  and  this  morning  had 
been  that  Alia  might  die  in  a  house  peacefully,  that 
death  might  deal  gently  with  her,  as  would  not  be 
the  case  did  she  expire  amid  the  jolt  and  rocking  of 
that  crazy  palanquin.  He  was  therefore  for  pushing 
on  as  far  as  might  be. 

But  soon  after  they  began  to  descend,  the  path 
being  steep  and  rough  so  that  the  'mules  moved 
jerkily  with  frequent  slips,  a  shriek  came  from 
Fatmeh  within  the  litter;  and  when  all  halted  and 
crowded  round,  Alia  was  discovered  lifeless. 

84 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Mas,  with  the  ready  help  of  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas, 
lifted  her  out  and  bore  her,  duly  veiled,  to  where  a 
jutting  rock  spread  a  fan  of  shadow.  Everyone 
thought  her  dead. 

But  Fatmeh,  with  a  snort  of  contempt,  bade  them 
all  stand  back.  She  removed  the  veil  from  the  girl's 
face,  and  began  to  chafe  one  of  her  hands,  bidding 
Shems-ud-din  do  the  like  with  the  other;  she  wetted 
her  fingers  in  her  mouth  and  laid  them  to  Alia's 
forehead;  with  the  result  that  presently  the  life  re- 
turned. Alia  drew  a  gasping  breath  and  her  eyelids 
fluttered. 

"  Praise  to  Allah !  "  cried  the  onlookers. 

"  Praise  to  Allah,  in  truth !  "  cried  Fatmeh,  with 
a  point  of  scorn.  "  Small  praise  to  anyone  else  here 
present !  It  is  the  fatigue,  of  course,  O  my  poor  one, 
O  my  dove !  How  should  it  be  otherwise  when  she 
has  been  jarred  so  many  hours  in  yonder  box,  which 
would  kill  even  a  jinni,  I  think,  with  its  lurch  and  the 
creak  of  the  poles.  Let  her  lie  in  peace  to-day,  and 
she  may  live  to  see  El  Cuds.  Hurry  on,  and  she  will 
die  on  the  way !  Allah  knows  that,  for  truth." 

There  could  be  no  further  question  as  to  where 
they  should  halt  for  the  night.  Alia  was  carried 
back  to  the  litter,  and  they  resumed  their  march  down 
into  El  Ghur. 

85 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

They  reached  the  plain  a  little  before  noon,  and 
dismounted  near  a  village  of  seeming  ant  hills  at 
the  foot  of  a  thicket,  on  this  side  the  ford.  Here 
food  was  procured  for  the  sick  girl — curds  and  fruit, 
and  rice  boiled  with  the  daintiest  parts  of  a  fowl — 
of  which  she  took  but  a  mouthful  ere  resigning  the 
dish  to  Fatmeh.  But  she  drank  deep  from  a  pitcher 
of  cold  pure  water,  and  lay  back,  seeming  re- 
freshed. The  women  abode  in  the  litter  set  down 
in  the  shade  of  some  trees,  the  hovels  of  the  village 
appearing'  to  Shems-ud-din  far  too  wretched  to  re- 
ceive them. 

The  repast  ended,  Hassan  and  the  rest  crossed 
the  river  and  strolled  off  in  various  directions.  Only 
Shems-ud-din  and  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas  stayed  with  Mas 
beside  the  litter.  The  last  named  busied  himself  in 
constructing  a  rough  booth  with  boughs  and  reeds 
and  grass,  and  garments  borrowed  from  one  and 
another.  Shems-ud-din  sat  in  a  state  between  prayer 
and  meditation,  observed  with  reverence  by  his  new 
disciple.  The  soothing  voice  of  Fatmeh,  the  voice 
of  a  nursing  mother  lulling  her  babe  to  sleep,  blent 
with  the  coo  of  doves  among  the  trees.  A  knot  of 
villagers  watched  from  a  distance,  impressed  by  the 
stillness  of  the  strange  men. 

At  length,  when  shades  grew  long  to  eastward, 
86 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

and  Mas,  having  finished  his  work,  had  gone  to  bathe 
in  the  river,  Zeyd  ventured  to  say : 

"  Deign  to  teach  me  somewhat,  O  my  master." 

"  In  the  name  of  Allah,  gladly,"  consented  Shems- 
ud-din,  starting  to  consciousness. 

Taking  suggestion  from  the  scene  around  them, 
he  told  of  Lut  and  Ibrahim  the  Friend,  and  how 
Allah  destroyed  the  wicked  cities  which  once  stood 
where  now  the  bitter  sea  shone  gold  to  the  setting 
sun.  The  villagers — men,  women,  and  little  chil- 
dren— approached  to  listen,  edging  nearer  shyly, 
like  wild  things  fascinated,  till  they  formed  a  half- 
circle  before  the  narrator.  Soft  breathed  "  Ma  sh' 
Allah!"  punctuated  his  discourse.  The  Circas- 
sians, returning  by  twos  and  threes,  lounged  upon 
the  ground  within  earshot.  "  It  is  a  great  saint, 
hear  him !  None  like  him  in  all  the  world !  "  they 
whispered  to  the  breathless  fellahin;  till  Shems-ud- 
din  observed  how  they  whispered  among  themselves, 
and  ceased  speaking,  in  some  annoyance.  Till  then 
he  had  been  scarce  aware  of  their  presence.  It  was 
no  time  for  preaching,  his  sorrow  told  him,  nor  for 
aught  else  wherein  his  soul  took  pride. 

The  villagers  stole  up,  one  by  one,  to  kiss  his  hand, 
and  he  suffered  it,  but  begged  them  to  withdraw; 
which  they  presently  did,  with  many  a  backward 

87 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

look.  Certain  of  the  women  returned  at  nightfall, 
bringing  slabs  of  bread,  and  earthen  bowls  full  of 
curds  and  cooked  meats,  which  they  set  upon  the 
ground  near  him.  They  stayed  not  to  haggle  over 
the  price,  but  took  what  was  offered  them  and 
went  away. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  "  said  Hassan  Agha,  with  his 
thunderous  laugh.  "  It  is  good  to  travel  with  a  holy 
one.  To-morrow,  it  is  likely,  we  shall  find  coined 
gold  instead  of  stones  in  our  path.  Know  also, 
O  light  of  my  eyes,  that  our  enemies  are  delivered 
into  our  hands,  an  easy  prey.  The  Lord  knows  we 
must  thank  thy  sanctity  for  it,  under  Allah.  Some 
dwellers  in  the  House  of  Hair  camp  ahead  of  us 
within  that  crease  of  the  mountain  to  be  seen  from 
here.  My  own  eyes  have  beheld  them.  And  one,  a 
pilgrim  to  Neby  Musa,  who  stood  near,  told  me  all 
there  is  to  know  concerning  them. 

'  They  are  infidels,  coming  of  a  southern  tribe 
which  of  old  was  perverted  from  the  Faith ;  and  they 
go  now  to  keep  the  feast  of  the  Nazarenes,  which  is 
nothing  but  a  battle  between  two  rival  factions  of 
that  sect,  decided  annually  in  the  church,  called  the 
Resurrection,  in  El  Cuds.  This  fight  is  all  their 
observance;  for  the  rest,  they  have  no  religion  more 
than  other  wild  beasts.  It  is  good  to  exterminate 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

such  men.  In  sh'  Allah,  we  shall  slay  every  one  of 
them  or  ever  they  behold  the  city.  So  shall  my  sons 
be  avenged !  " 

"  Be  not  so  wicked  in  thy  thoughts,"  said  Shems- 
ud-din  sternly.  "What  are  these  men  to  thee? 
These  slew  not  thy  sons !  " 

Hassan  shrugged  up  his  shoulders,  and  began  to 
roll  a  cigarette. 

"  Am  I  Allah,  to  tell  one  sparrow  from  his 
brother?" 

"  Thou  wouldst  not  shed  innocent  blood!  " 

"Is  their  blood  innocent?  Allah  knows:  let 
Him  decide.  I  know  that  men  like  to  these  in  ap- 
pearance slew  my  two  sons  ten  years  ago.  ..." 

Shems-ud-din  arose  quivering.  "  Now  Allah 
reckon  with  thee  at  the  Last  Day !  Fight  while  we 
travel  together,  and  I  leave  thee  without  a  blessing! 
Allah  witness,  it  is  my  last  word !  " 

"  Well,"  growled  Hassan  after  a  long  pause, 
"  let  there  be  truce  for  a  day  or  two  till  we  arrive  in 
El  Cuds.  There,  if  they  push  against  us  in  those 
narrow  streets,  I  cannot  swear  to  restrain  the  hands 
of  my  followers.  But  till  then,  peace.  Thy  blessing 
is  dearer  than  the  blood  of  dogs,  beloved!  " 

"  Good,"  said  Shems-ud-din;  and,  wrapped  in  his 
white  cloak,  he  lay  down  to  sleep  upon  the  ground 

89 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

before  the  bower  which  Mas  had  built,  where  slept 
the  women. 

So  it  befell,  on  the  morrow,  that  a  troop  of  horse- 
men overtaken  upon  the  mountain  road  went  unmo- 
lested. The  men  had  swarthy  faces,  dark  eyes  of  a 
smoldering  fire,  and  they  spoke  pure  Arabic  with 
a  husky  voice.  There  was  a  little  friendly  rivalry, 
racing  of  horses  and  the  like,  between  them  and  the 
Circassians;  but  that  was  all. 

"What  doest  thou?"  inquired  Shems-ud-din  of 
Zeyd  ebn  Abbas,  who  rode  with  his  eyes  shut,  mut- 
tering. 

"  I  pray  to  Allah,"  was  the  reply;  and  a  little 
later,  when  they  had  parted  from  the  tribesmen:  "  I 
praise  Allah,"  he  said. 

"  Thou  doest  well,  O  my  son." 

At  a  lonely  khan,  where  the  midday  halt  was 
made,  they  found  a  company  of  Prankish  travelers, 
taking  food  from  off  a  white  cloth  spread  upon  a  flat 
rock.  It  was  a  desert  place.  Blond  crags  towered 
up  wan  against  the  rich  blue ;  the  world  seemed  of  two 
plain  colors — earth  and  sky.  The  Franks  made  a 
great  clatter  with  knives  and  forks  upon  plates  of 
tin  or  some  other  metal.  They  laughed  loud  and 
vacantly,  rousing  echoes  among  the  cliffs.  They 
stared  rudely  at  the  newcomers,  the  palanquin  in  par- 

90 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ticular  attracting  their  curiosity.  They  pointed  with 
knife  and  fork  at  the  object  of  their  attention;  and 
one  who  stood  by,  having  the  countenance  of  an  Arab 
but  the  voice  of  a  Frank,  gave  them  information  in 
their  own  jargon. 

When  the  foreigners  had  done  eating,  they  clam- 
bered up  among  the  rocks  and  began  to  throw  down 
small  stones,  laughing  consumedly  for  no  reason. 
Their  guide  was  left  alone  upon  the  level  space  before 
the  little  khan.  Hassan  approached  him  and  entered 
into  conversation. 

"  Surely  the  Franks  are  possessed  with  devils," 
said  Shibli  to  the  sheykh  excitedly.  "  See,  they  laugh 
at  nothing,  they  throw  stones  at  nothing,  yet  rejoice 
in  their  vanity.  They  reject  the  means  which  Allah 
has  provided,  and  eat  with  strange  implements  hard 
to  manipulate,  making  of  their  necessity  a  game  of 
skill.  And  their  raiment.  Saw  a  man  ever  such 
clothes?  The  women,  more  especially;  if,  indeed, 
they  be  women !  Look  now,  I  beseech  thee,  O  my 
master." 

:' Wherefore  look,  O  my  son?"  said  Shems-ud- 
din  listlessly.  Whereupon  Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas, 
groaned  like  a  camel,  supposing  those  women  to  be 
sinful  beyond  the  common. 

Anon  Hassan  returned  from  the  dragoman,  bear- 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ing  a  face  of  news.    He  threw  himself  on  the  ground, 
as  one  heart-weary,  ere  observing : 

''  The  Holy  City  is  full  to  overflowing,  according 
to  that  dog.  Allah  help  all  of  us  to  find  a  lodging. 
The  Nazarenes  fill  every  nook,  and  a  cake  of  bread 
is  sold  for  a  week's  wages.  In  sh'  Allah,  it  is  not  all 
true,  what  the  hog  has  told  me." 

"Allah  help  us,  in  truth!  "  cried  Shems-ud-din. 
"  We  shall  arrive  too  late  to  seek  at  once  the  Frank 
physician.  And  the  city  is  set  on  a  hill — the  air  of  it 
is  keen.  My  child  will  surely  die.  Allah  teach  us 
how  to  proceed." 

"  I  will  tell  thee,  O  my  master,  and  you  also,  O 
companions  of  my  lord,"  exclaimed  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas 
suddenly,  with  a  joyful  face.  "  The  brother  of  my 
wife's  sister's  husband's  father  dwells  not  far  from  the 
Holy  Place,  on  this  side,  at  a  village  of  the  hills.  He 
is  not  a  rich  man,  but  deign  to  stay  the  night  with  him, 
and  not  he  only,  but  the  whole  of  my  wife's  family 
will  be  honored." 

Shems-ud-din  took  the  speaker's  hand  affection- 
ately, saying: 

"  Daily  do  I  praise  Allah  for  the  loving  kindness 
of  the  poor.  Surely  God  has  sent  thee,  O  Zeyd  of 
the  open  heart.  The  Lord  increase  thy  wealth  and 
hold  thee  ever  in  His  keeping." 

92 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

He  rose  then,  and  went  to  tell  the  women  of 
Zeyd's  offer  and  his  conclusion  to  accept  it.  A  cry 
of  "  Praise  to  Allah!  "  escaped  from  both  occupants 
of  the  litter.  After  the  glimpse  they  had  just  obtained 
of  Prankish  manners,  neither  Alia  herself  nor  Fat- 
meh  was  in  haste  to  behold  the  Frank  physician. 


93 


CHAPTER    VI 

THE  hills  were  as  negro  heads  about  a  fire;  twi- 
light, olive-tinted  and  something  luminous,  flooded 
every  crevice  of  the  land,  as  Shems-ud-din  sat  before 
the  house  of  Zeyd's  wife's  relation,  beneath  a  tree 
which  grew  there,  concluding  a  letter  to  his  son  Abd- 
ur-Rahman.  The  quality  of  the  light  obliged  him  to 
hold  his  face  close  to  the  reed  as  it  ran.  All  who 
dwelt  in  that  place,  squatting  round  upon  the  stones, 
watched  him  with  awe  and  wonderment. 

"  After  inquiry  concerning  thy  dear  health  " — so 
ran  the  screed — "  I  set  forth  to  thee  that,  thy  sister  the 
little  Alia,  having  been  ill  a  long  while,  and  all  which 
medical  science  both  local  and  illustrious  could  do  hav- 
ing proved  vain,  it  occurred  to  me,  by  the  permission 
of  Allah,  and  seemed  no  sin,  that  I  should  bring  her, 
thy  sister  aforesaid,  to  the  city  El  Cuds,  where,  accord- 
ing to  one  who  spoke  with  me  of  this  matter,  there 
are  found  foreign  physicians  of  a  science  transcend- 
ing that  of  the  physicians  of  our  own  nation ;  whither 
therefore  I  bring  her,  having  journeyed  thus  far  by 
the  grace  of  Allah,  and  intending  to  abide  here  this 

94 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

night  in  the  village  below  mentioned  in  the  house  of  a 
friend  of  one  of  my  companions,  a  good,  kind  man, 
may  Allah  bless  him. 

"  And  moreover  I  inform  thee  that  all  is  so  far 
well  with  me,  by  the  mercy  of  Allah,  thy  sister  yet 
alive,  though  weak  and  worn  to  the  shadow  of  her 
thou  bearest  in  mind ;  but  that  hearing  of  the  city  that 
it  is  full  to  overflowing  of  Nazarenes  thronging  to 
their  feast  of  the  Resurrection,  I  think  well  to  send 
thee  beforehand  this  word  of  our  coming,  that  thou 
mayest  seek  out  a  place  where  I  and  my  companions 
of  the  road,  to  the  number  of  twenty  men,  may  lodge 
while  we  remain  in  the  city;  a  long  time  or  a  short, 
as  Allah  wills  it;  and  to  express  my  eager  hope  that 
thou  wilt  meet  us  in  the  gate  to-morrow  early,  to  in- 
form us  where  the  Frank  physician  dwells. 

"  Know  further  that  Hassan,  our  old  friend,  is 
with  me,  and  many  also  of  his  people,  and  Shibli,  my 
pupil  and  thine  ancient  playfellow,  who  all  for  com- 
passion bear  me  company;  that  these  all  salute  thee 
with  every  blessing,  and  that  I,  thy  father,  yearn  ex- 
ceedingly to  embrace  thee  once  again,  and  may  Allah 
preserve  thee  everl  " 

This  letter,  a  marvel  of  fine  penmanship,  though 
written  upon  his  lap  in  the  failing  light,  he  delivered 
to  one  of  the  Circassians  standing  ready  beside  his 

95 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

horse.  The  villagers,  who  had  squatted  silent 
throughout  the  writing,  crowded  now  around  the  re- 
cipient, craving  leave  but  to  glance  at  the  superscrip- 
tion. "  Ma  sh'  Allah!  "  they  exclaimed,  when  it  was 
shown  to  them.  The  messenger,  proud  of  his  sudden 
consequence,  proceeded  to  read  aloud  for  their  delec- 
tation : 

"  '  To  the  most  illustrious,  the  most  glorious,  the 
most  renowned,  the  most  honored  Excellency  Abd-ur- 
Rahman  Bey,  the  most  respectable,  may  Allah  pre- 
serve him  ever !  '  So  it  is  written,  O  my  uncles !  " 

And  those  simple  ones  heard  with  rapture,  heads 
bowed  as  at  a  blessing. 

Then  the  messenger  sprang  into  the  saddle,  and, 
under  guidance  of  a  barelegged  youth,  rode  off  with 
a  clatter  up  the  stony  path  between  the  houses,  out 
by  olive  groves  to  the  open  hill  whose  brow  cut  sharp 
upon  the  last  of  sunset. 

When  the  messenger  returned,  it  was  the  third 
hour  of  night.  Shems-ud-din  sat  in  the  guest  room  of 
the  village,  observed  and  questioned  untiringly  by  the 
group  of  elders.  A  throng  of  women,  children,  and 
the  younger  men  pressed  to  the  open  door,  craning 
their  necks  to  peer  within.  All  those  bearded  faces 
lighted  from  below  by  a  saucer  lamp  upon  the  floor 
in  their  midst,  backed  by  gigantic  shadows,  seemed 

96 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

to  tower  upward  indefinitely.  The  messenger  bowed 
low  on  entering,  his  hand  on  his  breast. 

Shems-ud-din  bent  forward  eagerly.  "  The  an- 
swer, O  my  son!  Give  me  the  answer.  I  praise 
Allah  for  thy  safe  return." 

"  There  is  no  answer,  O  my  lord,"  replied  the 
messenger  wearily.  "  On  arrival  in  the  city  I  rode 
at  once  to  the  tower  where  the  soldiers  lodge.  There 
I  made  inquiry  of  one  who  stood  guard,  and  he 
said,  '  O  my  uncle,  his  Excellency  the  Bey  was  within 
here  a  while  since,  but  whether  he  be  still  here  or  be 
gone  to  his  own  place,  enter  thou  and  discover,  for  I 
cannot  certify  thee.'  So  I  gave  my  horse  to  the  boy, 
my  companion,  to  hold — a  good  boy  and  a  useful; 
his  father  is  blest  in  him — and  entered  in  at  the  gate, 
questioning  all  I  met.  At  last  came  one  who  assured 
me  that  the  Bey  was  gone  to  his  dwelling  in  the  city, 
and  described  the  house  to  me  and  named  the  quarter 
and  street  in  which  it  stood.  So  I  went  back  again  to 
my  horse  and  repeated  the  description  of  the  house 
and  its  whereabouts  to  the  boy,  my  companion,  who 
led  me  by  night  ways  full  of  snarling  dogs,  till  we 
came  to  the  house. 

"  From  within  came  sounds  of  feasting  with  song 
and  the  voice  of  the  lute.  I  knocked  upon  the  gate 
till  there  looked  forth  an  old  man,  to  whom  I  showed 

97 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  letter  and  its  superscription.    He  went  from  me, 
and  came  again  and  told  me,  saying : 

"  '  His  Honor  the  Bey  makes  merry  with  his 
friends.  He  will  not  be  disturbed.  Deign  to  con- 
fide the  letter  to  me,  and  I  will  give  it  to  him  in  the 
morning  when  he  will  hear  my  voice.' 

"  So,  seeing  that  the  man  was  old  and  of  a  kind 
countenance,  I  thought  good  to  give  him  the  letter. 

"  Then,  as  I  came  out  from  the  city,  the  boy  lead- 
ing me — for  alone  I  had  been  as  a  blind  bird  in  a  net 
— two  soldiers  at  the  gate  would  have  stopped  me, 
asking  my  business,  and  for  what  cause  I  rode  forth 
armed.  But  the  boy  slipped  past  them,  and  cried  to 
me,  and  when  they  turned  to  see  who  cried  without, 
I  put  spurs  to  my  horse  and  galloped  by,  upsetting 
one  of  them. 

"  The  tale  is  finished,  O  my  master." 

"Good;  I  thank  thee,"  said  Shems-ud-din,  with 
dignity.  But  his  soul  kept  murmuring,  "  No  answer! 
He  sent  no  answer!  "  And  its  voice  was  as  the  sea 
for  sadness. 

Hassan,  to  cheer  him,  cried:  u  Be  not  downcast, 
O  light  of  my  eyes !  Thy  son  is  young,  and  the  way 
of  youth  to  discretion  winds  through  feasting  and 
carelessness.  To-morrow,  when  he  reads  thy  letter 
with  a  clear  mind,  he  will  hasten  with  joy  to  meet 

98 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

thee.  Remember  the  days  that  are  gone,  when  thou 
also  wast  light  of  heart." 

And  all  they  that  sat  with  them  in  the  room  joined 
with  Hassan,  saying: 

"  Thy  worthy  friend  speaks  truth.  The  ways  of 
youth  are  not  as  our  ways.  The  wisdom  of  youth  is 
a  bird  with  no  nest.  Take  comfort,  O  sheykh !  Be 
assured  there  is  nothing  wrong." 

But  Shems-ud-din  derived  no  comfort  from  their 
sagacity. 


99 


CHAPTER    VII 

NEXT  morning,  before  the  start,  Shems-ud-din 
offered  money  to  the  lord  of  the  house;  but  the  old 
fellah  thrust  back  his  hand. 

"  Is  the  honor  nothing  in  thy  sight?  Give  a  little 
to  my  neighbors  on  account  of  thy  companions,  and 
my  peace  with  thee." 

Shouts  of  good  will  went  after  the  departing 
guests.  Shems-ud-din's  heart  was  lighter  than  on  the 
night  before.  He  neared  his  journey's  end;  Alia 
seemed  no  worse;  and  the  shortcomings  of  Abd-ur- 
Rahman  appeared  excusable  by  daylight. 

Suddenly,  from  a  hilltop,  they  beheld  the  city. 
Contained  in  shadowy  walls,  its  roofs  clean  burnished 
by  the  morning  sun,  it  was  a  sight  to  catch  the  breath. 
The  Dome  of  the  Rock,  three  parts  shadowed, 
bloomed  aloof  in  its  noble  precinct.  Here  and  there 
amid  the  throng  of  buildings,  some  little  polished 
surface  caught  the  light  and  flashed,  a  diamond. 
The  whole  seemed  the  masterpiece  of  some  worker 
in  silver  or  ivory,  rather  than  an  old  city  built  at 
divers  times  by  men  unknown  to  one  another. 

100 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Of  tacit  accord  the  cavalcade  had  halted  to  ad- 
mire, when  a  hubbub  arose  among  the  Circassians. 
Two  dead  fowls  had  been  discovered  beneath  the 
cloak  of  Nesib — fowls  stolen  from  the  village  they 
had  just  left.  Loud  were  the  cries  of  shame.  Has- 
san struck  the  thief  on  the  head  with  the  butt  of  his 
carbine,  stunning  the  wretch,  who  would  have  fallen 
had  not  a  loving  comrade  sustained  him.  He  took 
the  birds  and  gave  them  to  one  more  trustworthy,  with 
orders  to  return  to  the  village  and  pay  the  price  of 
them. 

"  Oh,  the  sin!  Oh,  the  shame  of  it!  "  groaned 
Shems-ud-din. 

But  Hassan,  chancing  to  overhear,  objected, 
saying : 

"  Be  not  too  sad,  O  my  soul!  Nesib  is  a  thief 
even  as  thou  art  a  saint.  It  is  Allah's  will  upon  him. 
He  has  stolen  slippers  from  the  gate  of  a  mosque. 
And  he  has  his  uses.  Not  for  nothing  do  I  admit  an 
Arab  in  my  troop.  There  are  but  two  of  them  now 
among  us,  Nesib  and  one  AH,  the  friend  of  Nesib. 
Nesib  would  not  join  without  All,  and  Nesib  is  so 
useful  that  we  accepted  Ali,  who  serves  no  purpose 
on  earth,  but  only  hangs  upon  Nesib.  Ah,  our  Thief 
is  clever !  He  would  steal  the  food  out  of  your 
mouth,  and  your  belly  none  the  wiser." 

101 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Shems-ud-din  smiled  at  the  description ;  and  their 
talk  continued  in  a  pleasant  strain  till,  having  crossed 
a  dry  torrent  bed  in  the  wady,  they  began  to  ascend. 

They  had  lost  sight  of  the  city  all  save  the  walls, 
which  ran  along  the  top  of  the  rocks  above  them. 
Shems-ud-din's  face  fell  sad  once  more,  as  he  mused 
upon  the  mystery  of  fate,  and  the  uncertainty  of  what 
awaited  him  up  there  within. 

Lepers  and  other  beggars,  seated  beside  the 
broad,  made  road,  howled  to  them  for  alms.  Men 
with  donkeys  and  mules  and  camels  passed  up  and 
down  before  them.  The  toll  of  a  mighty  bell  echoed 
among  the  stony  hills — the  bell  of  the  Resurrection, 
explained  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas,  calling  the  Nazarenes 
to  prayer.  Everything  announced  their  approach  to 
a  great  city  such  as  few  of  them  had  seen  in  all  their 
lives.  Shibli's  excitement  knew  no  bounds.  He  kept 
galloping  on  in  front  and  returning  to  tell  what  he 
had  seen,  asking  answerless  questions,  laughing  and 
shouting  like  one  possessed. 

"  Stop!  Stop,  I  say!  Are  you  deaf,  all  of  you? 
What  do  you,  wearing  arms,  so  great  a  company? 
Show  your  teskerehs  before  I  let  you  pass." 

A  soldier  stood  out  before  them  in  the  gate  of  the 
city,  while  two  more  issued  yawning  from  the  guard- 
house. 

102 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Shems-ud-din  proffered  his  teskereh,  but  the  sen- 
try scouted  it. 

"  That  allows  you  to  travel ;  good.  By  what 
authority  do  you  travel  armed  like  soldiers?  " 

"  Look  hither.  Canst  read?  "  said  Hassan  loft- 
ily; and  he  held  out  a  copy  of  that  old  firman  naming 
him  Guardian  of  the  Frontier,  which  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  carrying  about  to  confute  the  skeptical. 

"What  is  this?" 

"  Canst  thou  not  see?  It  bears  the  Tughra,  the 
handmark  of  Power." 

"  Is  it  some  antique?  " 

"  Dog!  Dost  scoff  at  the  hand  of  the  Padishah? 
Let  pass,  or  thy  punishment  shall  be  horrible.  Know 
that  we  have  with  us  a  greater  man  than  thou  ever 
sawest  in  all  thy  life  of  sin " 

"Is  it  this  man?"  broke  in  the  soldier  impu- 
dently, pointing  with  his  finger  at  Zeyd,  the  son  of 
Abbas,  who,  on  his  miserable  donkey,  in  his  ragged 
clothing,  cut  the  sorriest  figure  imaginable. 

"  Pig ! "  snarled  Hassan.  "  I  will  ride  thee  down ! " 

"  Have  the  kindness  only,  and  thy  punishment  is 
sure.  Once  in  there,  thou  and  thy  friends  are  caught 
in  a  box." 

"  Deign  but  to  listen.  Knowest  thou  one  Abd-ur- 
Rahman  Bey,  a  yezbashi  of  the  garrison?  " 

103 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Of  course.    What  is  that  to  thee?  " 

"  I  will  tell  thee.  This  holy  sheykh  beside  me  is 
his  father.  Now  let  pass." 

"  Gently,  gently,  O  my  uncle.  That  is  good, 
what  thou  sayest — excellent — I  ask  no  better.  Only 
— I  do  not  believe  it.  He  of  whom  thou  speakest  is 
a  great  one.  Everything  is  known  about  him ;  yet  I 
never  heard  that  he  owned  a  father  living,  much  less 
do  I  look  to  see  his  father  riding  up  from  nowhere  in 
the  midst  of  a  crew  of  rascals  without  proper  tes- 
kerehs—  Mash' Allah!" 

The  final  exclamation  was  uttered  in  a  frightened 
whisper.  The  speaker  stood  back  hastily  with  his 
comrades,  sprang  to  attention,  and  presented  arms. 

The  road  described  a  right  angle  under  the  gate- 
way, so  that  no  one  standing  without  could  see 
through  into  the  street.  The  guard  had  stood  for 
some  seconds  rigid,  nosing  their  rifles,  ere  he  whom 
they  thus  honored  could  be  seen  of  Shems-ud-din. 
Even  then,  in  the  young  officer  advancing  toward 
him,  one  white-gloved  hand  on  his  sword  hilt,  not 
running  nor  manifesting  the  slightest  emotion,  he  was 
slow  to  recognize  his  only  son. 

Abd-ur-Rahman  came  to  his  father's  stirrup  and 
kissed  his  hand  with  the  same  formality  which  had 
marked  his  approach.  He  murmured: 

104 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Welcome,  and  twice  welcome,  O  my  father." 
At  sound  of  his  voice  a  cry  went  up  from  within 
the  litter  close  at  hand;  but  Abd-ur-Rahman  seemed 
not  to  hear  it. 

"  Thou  didst  receive  my  letter,"  said  Shems-ud- 
din,  as  they  passed  in  beneath  the  massive  gateway. 
Abd-ur-Rahman,  still  at  his  stirrup,  answered: 
"  In  this  hour  I  received  it.  It  should  have  been 
delivered  to  me  last  night,  but  for  the  obtuseness  of 
the  doorkeeper  at  the  house  where  I  dwell.  As  to 
thy  question  concerning  Frank  physicians,  I  know 
nothing  of  the  matter.  I  inquired  on  my  way  hither, 
and  have  learnt  that  there  exists  a  hospital  kept  by 
one  of  them.  Thou  wilt  find  its  direction  written  on 
this  paper,  as  also  that  of  a  khan  where  thou  mayst 
find  room  enough.  What  was  told  thee  regarding 
the  present  fullness  of  the  city  concerns  not  the  Mus- 
lim quarter.  I  hope  that  my  sister  will  be  soon 
healed,  and  that  thou  wilt  be  blest  in  thy  stay  here. 
Now,  with  permission,  I  must  leave  thee.  I  will  seek 
thee  after  noon  at  the  khan." 

"  Allah  be  with  you  now  and  always,  O  my  son." 
As  he  watched  Abd-ur-Rahman  stride  off  down  a 
side  street  of  many  arches,  Shems-ud-dm  wondered 
what  it  was  that  so  oppressed  his  soul. 


105 


CHAPTER   VIII 

BENEATH  an  arched  doorway  opening  on  a  tun- 
neled way  where  lurked  so  deep  a  shadow  that,  on 
emerging  thence,  the  fall  of  sunlight  hurt  men's  eyes, 
sat  a  fat  old  man,  greasy  and  no  little  dirty,  making 
his  frugal  breakfast  of  bread  and  olives.  Behind 
him,  through  the  doorway,  basked  a  little  court -in 
sunlight. 

His  was  the  quietest,  coolest  seat  in  all  El  Cuds, 
he  was  used  to  boast.  Great,  therefore,  was  his  con- 
sternation when,  suddenly  deafened  with  the  clatter 
of  many  hoofs,  he  saw  his  tunnel  invaded  by  a  file 
of  armed  horsemen  so  numerous  that,  peeping  forth, 
he  could  not  see  the  end  of  them.  At  first,  being  an 
infidel,  he  supposed  them  sent  by  government  to  raid 
the  hospital  and  slay  every  sufferer.  But  a  further 
glance  convinced  him  that  no  such  mercy  was  con- 
templated. He  perceived  a  close  litter  borne  between 
two  mules.  The  contrivance  had  entered  the  tunnel ; 
it  remained  to  be  seen  if  it  would  ever  get  out  again. 
One  called: 

106 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Hi,  O  old  man !  Is  this  the  Frankish  hos- 
pital?" 

"  It  is  a  hospital,  that  is  sure.  And  it  is  Frankish 
in  the  sense  that  it  is  maintained  by  certain  Franks 
having  more  money  than  wits." 

"  There  is  with  us  a  maiden,  very  ill.  We  have 
come  from  far  that  she  may  be  healed  by  the  Frank 
physician.  Her  nurse  is  with  her  in  the  litter.  Let 
them  in,  we  beseech  thee,  to  the  presence  of  thy  lord. 
We  bring  gifts,  and  the  father  of  the  girl,  that  sheykh 
behind  there,  is  very  rich.  It  will  be  worth  much  to 
thy  lord  if  he  can  heal  her." 

"  Are  you  Jews?  " 

"Allah  forbid!" 

"  Is  the  sufferer  of  that  race?  " 

"  Allah  forbid  I  Why  askest  thou  ?  Why  look- 
est  thou  so  strangely?  Art  thou,  perchance,  thyself 
of  the  dregs  of  mankind?  " 

;<  What  matter  for  me?  I  am  but  the  door- 
keeper. But  all  those  who  pass  within  to  be  healed 
or  die,  as  Allah  wills,  must  be  Jews  and  Jews  only. 
It  is  the  law  of  the  English  to  whom  this  house 
belongs." 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  Knowest  thou,  O  old  man,  that 
this  hospital  of  thine  is  a  place  unclean,  a  place  of 
sin,  no  better  than  a  lair  of  filthy  swine?  " 

107 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  I  know  nothing.  I  am  the  doorkeeper.  They 
pay  me  monthly  wages,  and  my  task  is  light.  I  say 
they  are  good  people.  They  can  do  what  they  please, 
for  me.  ...  It  is  plain  you  are  from  the  country, 
or  you  would  not  be  surprised  and  angry  at  such  little 
things." 

And  he  smiled  the  superior  smile  of  the  towns- 
man. 

'The  physician!  Ask  concerning  the  physi- 
cian. I  would  speak  to  him  without  delay,"  called 
Shems-ud-din,  pushing  his  way  on  foot  to  the 
front. 

"  He  will  tell  you  the  same  which  I  tell  you — 
only  Jews  enter  here.  .  .  .  But  as  for  a  physician — 
ah,  I  assure  you — he  is  a  physician — none  like  him 
under  heaven  !  By  Allah,  one  touch  of  him  cures  any 
disease  less  malignant  than  death  itself!  Go  to  his 
house,  I  advise  you;  it  is  not  far  from  here.  It  is 
likely  he  will  show  mercy  to  you,  for  he  is  a  kind 
young  man.  Come,  I  will  teach  you  the  way  thither. 
I  am  the  doorkeeper,  and  cannot  quit  my  post.  But 
perhaps  I  can  find  one  to  guide  your  honors.  .  .  . 
O  black  man,  thou  canst  never  turn  those  mules  in 
the  alley  there.  Lead  through  into  the  court  where 
there  is  room  enough.  There  they  can  turn  at  ease, 
and  the  poor,  sick  lady — may  Allah  heal  her — shall 

108 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

not  be  inconvenienced.    Take  care  now !  Oah !   Heed 
this  little  step." 

In  a  trice  the  old  doorkeeper  had  become  all  po- 
liteness, espying  a  silver  coin  in  the  hand  of  Shems- 
ud-dln. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  procession  stopped  once 
more  before  a  door,  that  looked  lonely  in  a  place  of 
high  blind  walls.  By  that  time  it  was  accompanied 
by  a  crowd  of  bare-limbed  urchins,  beggars,  and  other 
idle  ones.  Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  as  riding  upon 
an  ass  in  the  midst  of  horsemen,  and  conspicuous  for 
the  wretchedness  of  his  apparel,  excited  particular  ad- 
miration in  these  adherents.  When  he  got  down  off 
his  steed  and  went  to  help  Mas  unharness  the  mules 
from  the  litter,  they  thronged  about  the  despondent 
animal,  touched  and  examined  it  closely,  as  it  had 
been  of  gold. 

"  Do  you  covet  him,  O  sons  of  two  walls?  "  called 
Hassan,  with  his  mighty  laugh.  "  His  beauty  is  for 
sale,  but  the  price  is  a  high  one.  Be  careful  not  to 
steal  him." 

Whereat  a  grin  illumined  those  dirty  faces, 
and  rows  of  white  teeth  gleamed  forth.  One 
of  the  Circassians  hammered  loud  upon  the  door 
till  an  old  negro  looked  out  in  dismay  upon  their 
multitude. 

8  109 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Is  the  physician  within?  Here  is  a  girl  near  to 
death.  We  have  come  from  afar,  bringing  gifts,  that 
the  Frank  may  heal  her." 

"  Certainly,  he  is  within.  Wait  a  little  while, 
till  I  inform  him  of  your  desire." 

The  negro  shut  the  door,  but  reopened  it  pres- 
ently announcing  his  master's  pleasure  to  receive 
them. 

"  But  not  all  of  you,"  was  subjoined  with  a  grin. 
"  It  is  a  house,  not  a  city.  Let  those  concerned  enter, 
while  the  rest  abide  by  the  beasts." 

"  O  happy  day !  "  shouted  Hassan.  "  An  Eng- 
lish physician  is  the  best  of  physicians.  One  in  Kars 
preserved  the  life  of  thousands.  Importune  him, 
pursue  him,  flatter  him;  give  him  no  peace  till 
he  hear  thee;  so  shall  the  girl  have  life  instead  of 
death." 

Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  Mas,  and  two  of  the 
Circassians  bore  in  the  litter,  taking  each  a  pole. 
Through  a  dim  corridor  with  closed  doors  on  either 
hand  they  passed  to  an  open  yard,  where,  by  direction 
of  the  black  doorkeeper,  they  set  down  their  burden 
in  the  sunshine.  The  pavement  of  this  yard,  like  the 
walls  and  floor  of  the  entrance  passage,  was  so  scru- 
pulously clean  as  to  seem  of  white  marble,  striking 
awe  into  the  visitors.  Shems-ud-din  kept  close  by  the 

no 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

palanquin.  A  third  Circassian  followed,  both  arms 
laden  with  the  sheaf  of  gifts.  Hassan,  misliking  the 
looks  of  the  town-bred  rabble,  stayed  without  beside 
the  horses,  to  keep  order;  and  Shibli,  for  reasons  of 
his  own,  stayed  with  him,  though  invited  by  Shems- 
ud-din  to  enter. 

The  litter  deposited  in  the  courtyard  of  the  house, 
the  three  Circassians  proceeded,  with  the  help  of 
Zeyd  ebn  Abbas,  to  spread  out  the  presents  upon  the 
flags  so  as  to  be  seen  to  advantage.  They  were  in  this 
occupation  when  a  Frank  emerged  from  a  room  above 
them  and  came  slowly  down  a  flight  of  steps  into 
the  court.  He  was  young  and  of  a  smiling  counte- 
nance, very  red,  after  the  manner  of  his  kind  when 
sunburnt.  His  eyes  were  screwed  up  against  the 
strong  light. 

A  shout  of  praise  greeted  his  appearance.  All 
heads  were  bowed.  Shems-ud-din  ran  to  the  foot  of 
the  stone  flight  with  design  to  kiss  his  hand.  But  the 
Frank  resisted.  He  repaid  their  salutations  fluently, 
and,  for  the  rest,  spoke  in  a  childish  kind  of  Arabic, 
easy  to  comprehend.  He  asked  to  know  in  what  man- 
ner he  could  serve  them. 

Zeyd  ebn  Abbas  and  the  three  Circassians  raised 
hands  and  eyes  toward  the  great  blue  sky,  implying 
that  the  gravity  of  the  matter  passed  human  explana- 

iii 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

tion,  and  required  Allah  fitly  to  describe.  Mas,  whose 
custom  was  to  mind  his  own  business,  employed  him- 
self tranquilly  in  smoothing  down  the  curtains  of  the 
palanquin.  Shems-ud-din  bowed  low  before  the 
stranger. 

"  Know,  O  renowned  hakim,  that  my  daughter, 
who  is  here  with  us,  lies  sick  unto  death.  And  it 
was  told  me  in  the  place  where  I  dwell,  how  thou  canst 
heal  where  all  others  despair  of  healing.  Wherefore 
I  journeyed  hither  under  escort  of  these  kind  com- 
panions, bringing  the  girl  my  daughter,  and  certain 
gifts  for  thy  acceptance,  and  also  a  sum  of  money, 
that  peradventure  thou  mightst  take  pity  on  my 
daughter  and  condescend  to  employ  thy  skill  upon  her. 
O  my  son,  hear  the  prayer  of  an  old  man  whose  heart 
is  sad,  and  I  will  requite  thee  to  the  utmost  of  my 
means,  and  Allah,  who  is  more  than  all  of  us,  will 
give  to  thee  at  the  Last  Day." 

"  Where  is  the  girl?  "  asked  the  Frank;  and  the 
abruptness  with  which  he  put  the  question,  deigning 
no  preliminary  compliment,  caused  the  bystanders  to 
say  among  themselves : 

"  See  how  rude  he  is !  He  must  be  conscious  of 
very  great  ability  to  be  thus  short  with  the  revered 
Shems-ud-din." 

The  physician  stooped  beside  the  litter. 
112 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  O  girl,  give  me  thy  hand,"  he  said;  causing 
Zeyd  and  the  Circassians  to  exclaim  the  more,  saying : 

"  Surely  he  is  a  very  great  physician." 

"  Let  see  thy  face." 

At  that  Alia  uttered  a  faint  scream,  and  a  growl 
of  disapproval  came  from  the  four  critics. 

But  Shems-ud-din  said  simply:  "Let  it  be.  She 
is  not  yet  a  woman  complete,  and  Allah  knows  her 
face  at  present  is  not  such  as  to  excite  desire.  Be  not 
afraid,  O  my  dear,"  he  added  in  a  soothing  tone  to 
the  sufferer.  "  For  thy  health's  sake,  this  sacrifice  is 
required  of  thee." 

One  glance  at  the  unveiled  brow  sufficed  the  for- 
eigner. He  rose  again  quickly  and,  turning  to  the 
sheykh,  shrugged  his  shoulders  with  an  upward 
look. 

"  How  far  have  you  carried  her  in  this  manner?  " 

"  Four  days  or  five,  O  khawajah." 

For  comment  the  Frank  gave  another  shrug.  His 
face  was  troubled.  The  stare  of  so  many  eager  eyes 
appeared  to  irk  him. 

"  She  is  very  near  to  death,"  he  said  at  length, 
half  to  himself.  "  Allah  alone  can  cure  her  now." 

Whereupon  the  listeners  whispered:  "  He  knows 
his  trade,  this  heathen !  He  makes  her  case  out  the 
worst  possible,  in  order  that  his  skill  in  curing  her 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

may  appear  the  more  considerable.  Yet  is  he  not 
totally  without  religion,  for  he  ascribes  the  chief 
power  to  Allah." 

"  O  sheykh,"  pursued  the  Frank,  when  he  had 
withdrawn  beyond  earshot  of  the  occupants  of  the 
litter,  "  what  can  I  do?  Am  I  God  that  thou  bring- 
est  to  me  a  dying  girl,  and  sayest,  '  Heal  her  '  ?  " 

Then  Shems-ud-din  adjured  him  by  the  love  of 
Allah,  by  all  things  sacred,  to  have  mercy  upon  Alia, 
and  not  to  turn  away  his  face  from  affliction.  He 
said: 

"  If  thou  refusest,  unto  whom,  under  Allah,  can 
I  look  for  succor?  We  can  but  return  whence  we 
came,  and  my  girl  will  die  miserably  by  the  roadside, 
for  her  strength  fails  her." 

'  That  is  likely,"  the  physician  was  forced  to 
admit;  and  the  thought  seemed  to  pain  him.  He 
frowned  and  put  a  hand  to  his  forehead,  brushing  up 
his  hair  beneath  the  extraordinary  form  of  headdress 
it  pleased  him  to  exhibit.  "  I  cannot  receive  her  in 
my  hospital.  It  is  against  the  rule,  and  I  am  but  a 
servant  there.  But  there  is  another  hospital.  Go 
thither." 

Now  it  was  the  strength  or  infirmity  of  Zeyd  ebn 
Abbas,  when  a  spectator,  to  throw  himself  into  any 
business  with  a  zeal  and  enthusiasm  surpassing  that 

114 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

of  the  transactors.  To  him,  an  excited  listener,  this 
curt  recommendation  of  another  hospital  seemed  the 
last  word  of  arrogance.  Feeling  the  call  for  a  su- 
preme effort  at  persuasion,  he  snatched  up  at  hap- 
hazard certain  of  the  gifts  which  strewed  the  pave- 
ment, and  ran  and  laid  them  at  the  proud  one's  feet, 
with  such  earnestness  that  an  earthen  pot,  which  was 
among  them,  cracked  upon  the  stones,  releasing  a 
sticky  greenish  fluid. 

"  O  pig !  O  clumsy  one !  Woe  is  me.  Thou 
hast  spilt  all  my  honey.  May  Allah  destroy  thy 
house,"  roared  one  of  the  Circassians,  whose  present 
it  was. 

Then  the  Frank  was  seen  to  smile.  O  triumph ! 
The  Circassians,  foremost  he  whose  gift  was  spoilt, 
laughed  loud  for  joy  of  the  victory.  The  Frank 
smiled;  his  pride  relented;  the  day  was  won.  To  the 
donor  of  that  honey  belonged  the  glory. 

It  seemed  scarce  necessary  that  the  Sheykh 
Shems-ud-din  should  continue  pleading,  demon- 
strating : 

'What  know  I,  O  hakim,  of  another  hospital? 
Is  it  not  enough  for  us,  who  are  honorable  men,  to 
be  spurned  from  the  gate  of  one?  Who  knows  that 
at  the  other  they  will  receive  the  girl,  my  daughter? 
The  one  is  for  Jews  only.  It  is  likely  the  other  will 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

be  found  to  be  for  Nazarenes  only.  Thou  art  a  great 
physician,  and  thy  face  is  kind.  Ah,  send  us  not 
away!  Condescend  to  treat  my  child.  If  she  dies, 
it  is  from  Allah.  Do  thou  but  what  is  in  thy  power 
to  do,  and  my  blessing  on  thee.  I  will  pay  all  thou 
askest." 

Once  more  the  thoughts  of  the  Frank  were  seen 
to  trouble  him.  He  would  not  meet  the  piteous  gaze 
of  Shems-ud-din,  from  whose  eyes  the  tears  were  now 
streaming. 

"  Have  you  a  room?  "  he  asked — "  a  clean  room 
— very  clean — one  to  which  air  conies  freely,  where 
I  could  visit  her  daily,  and  do  what  I  can  for  her?  " 

"  Merciful  Allah!  O  my  son,  have  I  not  said 
that  we  are  strangers  in  this  city.  And  a  room  on  this 
pattern  were  hard  to  find.  We  purpose  to  lodge  at 
a  khan  beside  the  Holy  Enclosure." 

"  A  khan !  It  must  not  be,"  cried  the  physician, 
with  more  of  vehemence  than  he  had  hitherto  used. 
"  Rather  let  her  remain  with  the  other  woman  here 
in  my  house.  And  do  thou,  O  sheykh,  remain  here 
likewise.  As  for  the  others,  thy  companions,  let  them 
go  to  the  khan." 

"  Now  may  Allah  requite  thee,  O  lord  of  all 
kindness !  "  Shems-ud-din  raised  his  tear-stained 
face  to  heaven  in  thanksgiving.  "  What  man  of  my 

116 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

own  faith  and  nation  had  done  as  much  for  me ! 
May  Allah  bless  thee,  exceedingly,  and  incline  thy 
mind  to  receive  the  truth.  Thou  hast  eased  me  of 
the  heaviest  of  burdens,  for  in  sooth  I  was  at  my  wits' 
end.  For  myself,  I  thank  thee ;  I  will  but  stay  to  see 
my  beloved  at  rest  ere  repairing  to  the  khan.  Let 
there  be  no  offense,  I  entreat  thee.  I  am  an  old  man, 
O  my  son,  and  my  habits  are  a  tree  above  me;  I  sit 
in  the  shade  thereof.  Moreover,  I  am  a  Muslim, 
and  thou,  O  my  son,  art  a  Nazarene.  That  which 
seems  clean  to  thee,  to  me  is  abomination ;  and  much 
that  I  hold  sacred  seems  dirt  to  thy  mind.  Let  me 
have  but  free  access  to  my  dear,  and  may  Allah  in- 
crease thy  wealth!  Only,  I  adjure  thee,  tempt  her 
not  to  sin  with  unclean  food,  and  observe  all  decency 
in  regard  to  her." 

"  My  doorkeeper  is  a  Muslim.  He  shall  cook 
for  her,  if  there  be  any  need  of  cooking,  which  I  think 
not  likely.  And  the  woman  with  her  will  doubtless 
instruct  me  when  I  approach  her,  lest  I  offend  un- 
knowingly." 

"  May  Allah  reward  thee." 

It  took  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas  time  to  realize  that  the 
excitement  was  over.  When  he  did  at  length  grasp 
the  fact,  and  his  mouth  shut  from  gaping,  he  did  not 
retire  with  the  Circassians.  These  walked  backward 

117 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

to  the  entry,  shouting  blessings  on  the  lord  of  healing; 
but  Zeyd  ran  and  kissed  the  hem  of  Shems-ud-din's 
robe. 

"  O  my  master,"  he  besought,  "  let  me  stay  by 
thee,  and  go  when  thou  goest.  Apart  from  thee  I 
walk  in  darkness,  I  am  lost.  Thy  companions  make 
a  mock  of  me." 

"  But  what  of  thy  donkey?  " 

"  Let  it  go.  Perhaps  they  will  take  it  to  the  khan 
with  the  rest.  I  care  not  greatly  though  I  lose  it,  for 
it  is  borrowed." 

To  repay  the  favor  shown  to  him,  Zeyd  made 
himself  useful.  He  helped  the  servants  of  the  house 
prepare  a  chamber  on  the  upper  floor,  and,  when  that 
was  ready,  lent  a  hand  to  Mas  and  the  other  negro 
in  carrying  the  litter  up  thither.  Though  cumbrous 
it  was  no  longer  heavy,  being  eased  of  the  weight  of 
Fatmeh,  who  now  walked  beside. 

Shems-ud-din,  alone  with  Fatmeh,  lifted  Alia  out 
on  the  raised  Frankish  bed  prepared  for  her.  The 
physician  had  long  since  gone  forth  upon  the  busi- 
ness of  his  calling.  As  she  sank  among  the  white, 
soft  cushions,  she  drew  a  deep  sigh.  A  Nazarene 
handmaid  entered  the  chamber,  bearing  milk  in 
a  glass,  which  she  offered,  saying  the  master  had 
ordered  it. 

118 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

When  Alia,  upheld  by  her  father,  had  drunk  of 
it,  she  licked  her  lips  and  fell  back  upon  the  pillows. 

"Art  content?"  whispered  Shems-ud-din,  bend- 
ing over  her. 

"  It  is  rest,"  she  murmured  faintly,  with  closed 
eyes. 


119 


CHAPTER    IX 

IT  was  the  third  hour  after  noon  when  Shems-ud- 
din,  by  the  help  of  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas,  made  his  way 
to  the  khan,  whither  Shibli  and  the  Circassians  had 
gone  before.  Mas  had  begged  permission  to  remain 
in  the  house  of  the  Frank,  having  discovered  in  the 
aged  doorkeeper  a  kindred  spirit  and  compatriot. 
And  Shems-ud-din  was  glad  to  leave  him  within  call 
of  Alia. 

At  the  khan  they  found  two  of  the  Circassians 
kicking  their  heels  in  the  dark  entry  with  the  mien 
of  unwilling  idlers.  At  sight  of  Shems-ud-din  their 
faces  brightened.  They  asked  leave  to  rejoin  their 
chief,  who,  with  the  rest  of  his  men  and  young  Shibli, 
was  gone  forth  to  view  the  city.  They  had  been  left 
behind  only  to  make  report  to  the  sheykh  that  all  was 
well,  and  the  beasts  safely  stabled. 

"  Is  my  donkey  also  safe?  "  asked  Zeyd,  with 
more  of  curiosity  than  concern. 

They  answered  with  a  grin :  "  Be  sure  of  it !  The 
desire  of  all  eyes  grinds  chaff  in  the  stable  here  beside 
thee." 

There  was  no  one  else  in  the  guest  chamber  when 
1 20 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Shems-ud-din  and  Zeyd  entered.  The  former  took 
seat  upon  the  diwan  which  ran  all  round  the  room, 
and  the  latter  soon  followed  his  example,  with  care, 
however,  to  leave  a  space  between  them  for  rever- 
ence. The  place  got  light  through  the  door  only. 
The  silence  was  unbroken  save  for  the  buzz  of  many 
flies,  spasmodical  movements  on  the  part  of  some  one 
in  another  room,  and  an  occasional  far-off  neigh  from 
the  stable.  The  faintness  and  seeming  distance  of 
sounds  without  testified  to  the  thickness  of  the  grimed 
old  walls. 

Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  sat  gazing  at  the  stone- 
work opposite,  now  and  then  risking  an  awe-stricken 
glance  at  his  companion's  face,  which  was  downcast 
and  very  sorrowful.  When  the  lord  of  the  khan 
came  bustling  to  wish  their  honors  a  happy  day, 
Zeyd  laid  finger  to  lip,  and  checked  the  tide  of  civili- 
ties. The  host  shuffled  off  again,  disappointed  and 
mystified. 

The  hue  of  Shems-ud-din's  thoughts  was  indeed 
very  somber.  He  sat  in  sackcloth,  shamefast  before 
Allah.  Where  was  his  faith,  his  resignation?  It 
had  been  lost  in  his  eagerness  to  win  the  heart  of  the 
unbeliever  to  pity  Alia.  And  his  present  hope,  how- 
ever faint,  was  it  not  an  insult  to  Divine  Omnipo- 
tence? His  soul  cried: 

121 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  O  Lord,  I  am  weak  indeed — weaker  than  I  was 
aware.  Strengthen  me  in  the  faith.  Make  me  as 
ready  to  give  up  as  to  receive.  Hear  my  cry  out  of 
this  shadow,  and  write  not  my  infirmity  against  me." 

And  Zeyd,  sitting  near  him  by  the  wall,  and 
gazing  furtively  upon  his  face  from  time  to  time, 
thought : 

u  Was  there  ever  such  a  saint?  Surely  he  is  holi- 
est of  all  men  living !  Surely  angels  talk  with  him, 
and  the  Most  High  leads  him  by  the  hand.  O  happy 
me,  to  sit  unrebuked  by  the  side  of  such  an  one,  the 
companion  of  his  musing !  " 

They  had  sat  thus  in  silence  a  long  while,  when 
footsteps  rang  without  with  the  noise  of  something 
clanking  along  the  flags.  The  voice  of  the  host  rose 
shrill  in  an  ecstacy  of  salutation.  The  next  minute  his 
burly  form  passed  the  doorway,  ushering  with  pro- 
found salaams  a  Turkish  officer  in  full  uniform. 

"  His  Excellency  Abd-ur-Rahman  Bey  seeks  audi- 
ence of  the  illustrious  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din,"  he  an- 
nounced with  unction,  a  perceptible  increase  of  respect 
in  his  tone. 

In  contrast  with  his  constraint  of  that  morning, 
Abd-ur-Rahman  came  forward  now  with  outstretched 
arms  and  fell  on  his  father's  neck.  Zeyd,  the  son  of 
Abbas,  stood  bowing  awhile,  but,  gaining  no  notice  by 

122 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

his  mute  obeisance,  went  out  to  gossip  with  the  lord  of 
the  khan.    Abd-ur-Rahman  scowled  after  him. 

"  Who  is  that  person,  O  my  father?  "  he  asked 
with  fastidious  lips. 

"  It  is  a  good,  poor  man,  a  friend  of  mine,  who 
accompanies  me  for  love,  not  gain,  yet  waits  upon  my 
needs  like  a  servant.  I  recommend  him  to  thy  favor, 
O  my  son." 

Abd-ur-Rahman  laughed,  between  amusement  and 
vexation. 

'  Thou  wast  ever  addicted  to  strange  friendships, 

0  my  father.    Remember  the  begging  Haj  who  came 
years  ago  to  our  house  and  dwelt  there  many  months 
in  thy  love,  laughing  in  his  beard.    He  persuaded  thee 
without  a  vestige  of  proof  that  he  was  a  Hafiz  and 
most  pious,  while  the  town  without  soon  knew  him  for 
a  drunkard  and  a  cheat,  and  Hassan  Agha  drove  him 
forth  at  the  last.     When  wilt  thou  learn  to  distin- 
guish ?    By  my  head,  I  would  do  much  to  avoid  being 
seen  in  the  company  of  him  who  has  just  left  us;  and 
lo !  thou  hast  sworn  brotherhood  with  him." 

Shems-ud-din  shook  his  head  archly.  "  It  is  plain 
to  see,  O  my  dear,  in  what  school  thou  hast  studied. 

1  hear  my  brother's  voice  in  every  word." 

Abd-ur-Rahman  smiled.  "  That  may  be.  But 
say,  O  my  father,  wilt  thou  not  take  a  little  thought 

123 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

for  appearances?  Out  there,  in  the  wilderness,  it 
matters  nothing,  for  all  men  know  thee.  But  here,  in 
the  city,  it  is  different.  Here  men  judge  of  men  with 
the  eyes  only ;  and  when  one  does  anything  uncommon, 
there  springs  up  a  talk  about  it,  which  is  not  pleasant. 
It  distressed  me,  at  our  meeting  this  morning,  to  be- 
hold thee  in  so  outlandish  a  company.  They  are  good, 
faithful  men,  and  our  friends,  that  is  known.  And 
perhaps  any  one  of  them,  seen  separately,  might  pass 
unheeded.  But  all  together.  ...  As  well  cry  aloud 
in  the  market!  Already  the  tale  of  your  arrival  is 
noised  abroad;  and  the  mouth  of  rumor  is  a  dirty 
fountain;  it  adds  something  foul  to  what  it  utters. 
Men  speak  of  thee  as  a  madman,  of  thy  compan- 
ions as  mockers  at  thy  madness.  They  say  that 
thou  hast  left  thy  daughter,  my  sister,  in  the  power 
of  a  certain  Frank,  a  man  unmarried  and  but  lately 
come  to  the  city,  of  whom  nothing  is  known.  Surely 
that  is  an  idle  tale,  O  my  father?  " 

"  It  is  truth,  though  the  wrong  side  thereof.  Thy 
sister  is  not  alone.  Fatmeh  and  Mas  are  beside  her 
in  that  house.  Moreover,  I  have  gazed  on  the  face 
of  the  Frank,  and  found  it  a  good  face.  They  assure 
me  he  is  a  clever  physician.  It  is  enough." 

"  Verily  thou  hast  a  talent  for  liking  strange 
beasts.  At  the  least,  O  my  father,  go  not  abroad 

124 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

with  our  Circassian  friends  in  a  body  as  you  rode  to- 
day. The  tongue  of  the  city  defames  and  sullies;  and 
I,  thy  son,  enjoy  some  standing  here,  and  a  name  not 
unrespected." 

"  In  all  which  I  hear  plainly  the  voice  of  my 
brother  Milhem — the  dear  one.  How  is  his  health 
in  these  days?  " 

"  He  is  well,  the  praise  to  Allah !  In  everyone  of 
his  letters  he  charges  me  with  some  fond  message  unto 
thee,  O  my  father." 

"  How  comes  it  that  I  have  received  none  of 
them  ?  Why  hast  thou  not  written  to  me  these  many 
months?  Is  there  any  dearth  of  travelers  in  our 
direction  that  thou  couldst  not  send  me  word  by  one 
of  them?" 

The  young  Bey  hung  his  head,  examining  the  hilt 
of  his  sword  as  though  there  had  been  something 
amiss  with  it.  He  stammered: 

"  Since  I  came  to  this  city,  I  have  been  very  busy 
acquiring  proficiency  in  my  new  duties.  And  in  the 
evening,  when  I  have  leisure,  I  am  weary;  and  to 
write,  unless  by  daylight,  hurts  my  eyes.  I  have 
sinned,  O  my  father." 

"  I  forgive  and  bless  thee.  But,  ah  me !  how  like 
thou  growest  to  my  brother  Milhem."  The  sheykh 
put  hand  to  forehead  and  indulged  his  memory  a 
9  125 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

little  space.  Then,  turning  sharply  to  his  son,  "  Thou 
hast  not  asked  concerning  the  health  of  Alia." 

"How  is  her  condition?"  said  Abd-ur-Rahman 
promptly. 

"  Praise  Allah  for  the  kindness  of  that  Prankish 
doctor.  .  .  .  Thou  wilt  come  to-morrow  and  visit 
her  in  his  house?  " 

Abd-ur-Rahman  shook  his  head  and  smiled  depre- 
catingly. 

"  That  may  scarcely  be,  O  my  father.  My  posi- 
tion in  El  Cuds  is  one  of  some  prominence.  I  dare 
not  invite  scandal  by  entering  a  house  of  unbelief; 
about  which,  in  connection  with  thee  and  thy  friends, 
there  is  talk  enough  already.  .  .  .  Tell  me,  O  my 
father,  why  dost  thou  take  so  much  trouble  on  account 
of  the  illness  of  my  sister?  Wouldst  thou  have  done 
as  much  for  the  health  of  me,  thy  son  ?  It  is  said  that 
thou  hast  promised  half  thy  fortune  to  this  Frank. 
And  yet  a  man  is  held  of  more  account  than  a  girl. 
They  dub  thee  madman,  O  my  father.  I  love  not  to 
hear  such  insolent  talk  of  thee." 

"  Thou  canst  always  smite  the  mouth  of  the 
speaker,"  began  Shems-ud-din,  indignant.  But  before 
he  could  proceed,  heavy  footsteps  sounded  in  the 
entry,  and  Hassan  burst  in. 

"  O  my  eyes,  I  have  seen  two  Bedawis  of  that 
126 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

same  band  which  we  passed  yesterday  upon  the  road. 
They  were  prowling  near  the  castle,  entering  into  con- 
versation with  the  soldiers.  By  Allah,  I  know  their 
business  at  the  Feast  of  the  Nazarenes.  They  would 
steal  rifles " 

"Ah,  of  a  truth,  would  they?"  said  Abd-ur- 
Rahman  dryly. 

"  Ha,  is  it  thou,  Abd-ur-Rahman,  O  child  of  my 
soul?  By  Allah,  in  the  dimness  I  mistook  thy  form 
for  that  of  our  glorious  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas.  A  mercy 
thou  didst  speak.  How  is  thy  health,  O  beloved?  In 
sh'  Allah,  it  is  the  best  possible.  Thou  art  come, 
doubtless,  to  rejoice  with  thy  father.  There  is  no 
longer  any  fear  for  Alia.  She  is  safe  in  the  care  of  an 
English  physician." 

"  I  must  depart,"  said  the  Bey  soon  after,  when 
more  footsteps  echoed  without.  "  Be  not  wroth  with 
me,  O  my  father,  if  during  the  course  of  thy  sojourn 
here  I  shall  appear  sometimes  neglectful.  Thou 
knowest  not  how  fettered  is  the  life  of  one  in  au- 
thority." 

Shems-ud-din  accompanied  his  son  as  far  as  the 
outer  portal  of  the  khan,  a  low  arch  open  on  a  narrow 
shadowed  way.  Overhead,  above  the  square-cut 
roofs,  the  sky  was  flushed  with  sunset.  At  part- 
ing, Shems-ud-din  took  the  lad's  face  between  his 

127 


THE    HOUSE    OF   ISLAM 

two  hands  and,  looking  straight  into  his  eyes,  said 
quietly: 

"  Of  a  truth,  in  speech  and  manner  thou  art 
grown  the  very  marrow  of  my  brother  Milhem.  He 
could  never  perceive  the  ground  of  my  doings.  My 
heart  is  sad  at  present — very  sad;  so  I  entreat  thee 
not  to  vex  my  understanding  with  every  idle  rumor 
which  may  wound  thy  vanity.  I  am  answerable  to 
none  save  Allah  for  my  madness.  Now  go  thy  way, 
and  may  Allah  keep  thee  always." 

With  that  he  kissed  his  son  between  the  eyebrows 
and  let  him  go. 


128 


CHAPTER   X 

THE  sun  rode  high  above  the  Holy  City,  but  a 
freshness  of  the  dawn  still  lurked  in  the  shade  of  her 
rough  walls,  in  the  gloom  of  her  covered  ways,  which 
swarmed  with  people  in  all  kinds  of  raiment  repre- 
sentative of  every  nation  under  heaven.  To  anyone 
threading  that  crowded  labyrinth  of  whitish  stone, 
ancient  and  coherent,  glimpses  of  the  pure  blue  sky 
became  welcome  as  a  flower  on  rocks.  For  Shems-ud- 
din,  accustomed  through  so  many  years  to  wide  hori- 
zons and  an  open  road,  the  overshadowing  walls 
made  a  prison.  The  hubbub  of  the  bazaars  dazed 
him,  and  he  felt  hurt  by  the  careless  shouldering  of 
other  wayfarers. 

He  had  been  to  visit  Alia,  and  was  making  his 
way,  under  guidance  of  the  faithful  Zeyd,  to  the  Sa- 
cred Area,  when  he  met  Shibli  walking  with  Hassan 
Agha  and  his  attendant  Circassians  amid  the  throng 
in  a  long,  dim  market. 

"  How  is  the  health  of  our  dove  this  morning?  " 
cried  Hassan,  speaking  for  them  all.  "  In  sh'  Allah, 
the  poor  one  is  much  better?  " 

129 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"If  not  better,  her  frame  has  rest — for  which 
Allah  be  praised!"  returned  Shems-ud-din.  'The 
people  of  the  house  are  very  kind,  as  I  learn  from  the 
mouth  of  Mas.  The  Lord  reward  them!  .  .  .  O 
Shibli,  son  of  my  hope,  unless  thou  hast  some  grave 
business,  come  with  me  to  the  Dome  of  the  Rock, 
whither  I  go  to  pray.  It  is  long  since  I  spoke  with 
thee  in  private.  Come  and  let  thy  voice  comfort  me, 
O  my  dear." 

Shibli  obeyed,  as  in  duty  bound;  but  his  face  often 
turned  to  gaze  wistfully  after  the  Circassians,  and  the 
lines  of  his  mouth  expressed  grievance. 

"  Is  the  health  of  the  beloved  indeed  no  better?  " 
he  felt  it  incumbent  on  him  to  ask. 

"  I  know  not  how  to  answer  thee,  O  my  son.  I 
fear  hope  as  a  friend  untried.  It  is  enough  to  desire. 
Notwithstanding,  if  Allah  wills  that  she  be  made 
whole,  there  appears  to  my  mind  a  possibility  which 
yesterday  I  could  not  discern." 

"Praise  be  to  Allah!"  murmured  Shibli  very 
properly. 

The  quiet  of  the  Muslim  quarter  brought  refresh- 
ment to  Shems-ud-din,  after  the  clamor  of  the  motley 
throng  in  the  bazaars.  Old  walls  rose  high  on  either 
hand.  Jutting  lattices,  with  here  and  there  an  arch, 
encroached  on  the  jewel  sky.  In  the  shade  of  one 

130 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ancient  portal,  ornate  but  crumbling  to  decay,  sat  a 
breadseller  asleep  behind  two  tiers  of  flat,  brown 
loaves.  A  man  with  a  water  skin  on  his  back  turned 
in  at  the  doorway  of  a  house  before  them.  A  grave 
notable,  in  apparel  sober  but  rich,  passed  them  with- 
out a  glance,  one  hand  in  his  breast.  Everything  in 
that  dim,  once  splendid  quarter  told  of  a  proud  re- 
serve, of  a  dignity  that  needs  no  trump  for  its  asser- 
tion. The  air  was  sad  with  the  sadness  of  great 
things  past. 

They  entered  what  seemed  a  disused  bazaar  of 
rare  magnificence,  a  huge  corridor  with  a  lofty  vaulted 
roof,  which  got  light  from  the  far  end  where  its  tall 
arch  framed  the  sky.  The  place  was  deserted  and 
ruinous,  its  floor  uneven  and  strewn  with  the  brash  of 
masonry.  Shems-ud-din  quickened  step  instinctively 
to  gain  the  light  which  picked  out  the  faces  of  his 
companions  from  the  shades  wherein  they  had  walked 
so  long. 

The  outer  sunshine  crashed  on  their  sight  with 
the  splinter  of  a  thousand  lances.  The  great  mouth 
of  the  passage  yawned  black  as  night  behind  them. 
On  either  side  of  it  ran  a  high  irregular  wall,  bearing 
here  and  there  a  lattice,  the  end  of  the  houses  in  this 
direction.  They  stood  on  a  strip  of  clear  ground,  on 
which  a  few  old  trees  cast  blots  of  shadow;  a  place 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

waste,  save  for  patches  of  wrought  pavement  and 
certain  small,  domed  shrines  as  delicate  as  toys  of 
ivory. 

Before  them,  at  no  great  distance,  rose  a  flight  of 
wide  steps  leading  up  on  to  a  terraced  plateau,  and  at 
a  point  farther  off  up  sprang  a  sister  flight  exactly  sim- 
ilar. On  the  top  of  either  stairway,  in  the  gate  of  the 
Haram,  stood  three  slender  columns,  light  and  grace- 
ful as  flower  stems,  supporting  arches.  At  one  end  of 
the  plateau,  seen  through  cypress  trees,  crouched  a 
mosque  of  many  aisles;  and  numberless  small,  domed 
buildings — shrines  and  cells  and  pulpits — capped  the 
terrace  walls.  But  what  drew  and  absorbed  their 
gaze  to  the  forgetting  of  all  else,  the  sun  and  center 
of  all,  was  a  mighty  dome,  in  form  and  color  some- 
what resembling  a  ripe  fig,  springing  from  the  roof 
of  an  octagon  of  two  kinds  of  marble,  wrought  to- 
gether into  cunning  patterns.  Not  a  foot  of  the  great 
building  but  had  been  treated  minutely,  curiously,  by 
the  hands  of  forgotten  craftsmen.  In  the  full  light 
of  morning,  there  in  that  sand-hued  place,  it  bloomed 
a  wondrous  iris  of  the  hills,  a  thing  to  wring  a  shout 
from  the  dying. 

Even  Shibli  forgot  his  dudgeon,  and  joined  rev- 
erently with  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas  in  reciting  the  prayer  of 
first  approach,  after  Shems-ud-din. 

132 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Then,  having  gazed  all  about  them,  they  crossed 
the  waste  ground  and  mounted  the  steps.  Discarding 
slippers,  they  passed  along  a  time-worn  pavement  to 
the  place  of  washing.  With  the  exception  of  two 
middle-aged  men  In  dark  robes  and  white  turbans, 
who  sat  disputing  gravely  beneath  a  tree  and  gave  but 
one  look  to  the  pilgrims,  they  seemed  alone  in  the 
vast  inclosure. 

When,  having  purified  their  bodies,  they  ven- 
tured to  approach  the  Noble  Sanctuary,  Shems-ud-din 
thought  well  to  remind  them  of  its  claims  to  rev- 
erence. 

"  Within,  beneath  this  admirable  dome,"  he  said, 
"  we  shall  behold  the  rock  whereon  Neby  Ibrahim, 
the  Friend  of  God,  prepared  to  sacrifice  his  beloved 
son  Ismail,  at  the  bidding  of  the  Most  High.  Hither 
also,  in  an  after  age,  was  our  lord  Muhammed,  the 
Apostle  of  God,  borne  by  night  on  the  celestial  beast, 
Burac ;  and  from'  that  same  rock  was  he  transported 
to  the  seventh  heaven,  being  yet  mortal.  Surely  there 
is  no  stone  in  all  the  world,  save  only  that  of  Mekka, 
more  worthy  of  our  reverence  than  this  rock,  which 
God  has  hallowed  from  of  old.  And  the  Khalif, 
Omar  El  Khattab  (peace  to  him),  did  well  to  raise 
this  splendid  dome  above  it." 

Zeyd   ebn   Abbas    devoured   those    high  words 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

greedily.  Shibli  heard  them  with  respect.  At  the 
entrance  to  the  Dome  of  the  Rock,  Shems-ud-din 
ceased  speaking,  and  they  passed  into  the  tinted  gloom 
of  the  sanctuary. 

While  Shibli  and  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas  paced  the  ring 
of  pavement,  studying  the  texts  worked  in  mosaic 
upon  the  walls  and  above  the  arches,  looking  on  the 
natural  rock  so  gloriously  enshrined,  Shems-ud-din 
knelt  and  made  prostration,  praying : 

"  O  Allah,  pardon !  Grant  to  thy  servant  faith 
on  the  pattern  of  El  Khalil,  who  in  this  place  offered 
his  dearest  freely  unto  thee.  Am  I  not  the  very  op- 
posite of  Neby  Ibrahim  El  Khalil?  When  all  reason- 
able means  failed  to  restore  my  child,  and  prayer  had 
been  made  in  vain,  Thy  Will  was  manifest  to  me. 
Yet  I  presumed  to  seek  other  aid,  I  sought  to  procure 
her  health  by  man's  exertion.  I  followed  the  con- 
trivance of  my  own  mind.  Am  I  not  impious,  there- 
fore ?  Am  I  not  abominable  ?  What  am  I  that  Thou 
shouldst  hear  me,  or  my  deeds  upon  the  earth  to  make 
a  claim  upon  Thee  ?  Nevertheless,  Thou  deignest  to 
give  ear  to  the  prayers  of  men,  and  hast  ordained 
prayer  unto  us  as  an  offering  pleasing  in  Thy  sight. 
Hear  me,  O  Lord,  in  this  my  extremity!  Oh,  have 
mercy  on  my  daughter,  the  innocent;  and  smite  me 
rather,  for  I  am  sinful!  And  whatever  Thy  Will 

134 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

concerning  her,  teach  me  to  resign  myself  to  it  utterly. 
Subdue  my  mind  and  my  soul,  and  lead  me  in  the  way 
of  the  upright." 

He  rose  at  length  from  off  the  pavement,  and 
went  and  sat  crosslegged,  his  back  against  the  wall. 
Tears  blinded  him.  The  footsteps  of  Shibli  and  Zeyd 
echoed  in  the  vast  dome,  and  their  whispering  made 
a  hollow  murmur.  But  Shems-ud-din  heard  nothing 
save  the  clamor  of  his  inward  strife. 

All  at  once  a  voice  near  his  ear  said,  "  Why  weep- 
est  thou,  O  my  brother?  " 

With  a  start,  as  one  awakes  out  of  sleep,  he 
looked  and  beheld  one  in  flowing  raiment  standing 
before  him,  a  very  old  man  who  leaned  upon  a  staff. 
His  face  was  deeply  furrowed  where  the  white  hair 
grew  not,  and  his  lips  were  shriveled  and  sucked  in- 
ward as  when  the  gums  beneath  have  shrunken,  being 
toothless.  Shems-ud-din  sat  amazed  by  the  appari- 
tion, for  he  had  not  heard  the  old  man's  steps  ap- 
proaching nor  the  tap  of  his  staff  along  the  stones. 
He  saw  the  forms  of  Zeyd  and  Shibli  afar  off,  stand- 
ing watching  as  men  smitten  with  dismay. 

;' What  ails  thee,  O  my  brother?  Wherefore 
weepest  thou  ?  I  cannot  discern  thy  likeness,  for  my 
eyes  grow  dim ;  but  I  see  thy  beard  white  as  my  own, 
and  I  hear  thy  sobs.  What  dire  distress  is  thine, 

135 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

an  old  man  inured  to  human  griefs,  that  thou  so 
lamentest?  " 

"  A  long  story,  O  my  brother." 

"  A  long  story  is  the  best  of  stories,  and  I  like  it 
none  the  worse  for  promising  to  be  sad.  At  my  age 
one  is  impatient  only  of  abruptness,  the  inconsequence 
of  the  merry  and  light-minded.  Lend  me  the  help  of 
thy  hand,  O  my  brother,  that  I  may  compose  my  limbs 
to  sit  beside  thee." 

Shems-ud-din  reached  forth  his  hand  and  the  old 
man  grasped  it,  steadying  himself  therewith  while  he 
tucked  his  staff  beneath  his  left  elbow.  He  was  about 
to  subside  upon  the  bare  stones,  when  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas 
darted  forward  and  spread  his  ragged  cloak  upon  the 
ground  beneath  him.  The  old  man  smiled  vaguely, 
exposing  his  toothless  gums. 

"  May  Allah  requite  thee,  O  my  son!  May  this 
thy  courtesy  be  counted  to  thee  for  righteousness ! 
Thy  cloak  is  old  and  of  poor  material,  as  my  hands 
perceive.  May  a  rich  mantle  fall  upon  thee  from  the 
hand  of  Allah!" 

Zeyd  bowed  his  head  to  the  blessing,  and  rejoined 
Shibli  with  a  face  of  great  elation. 

"  Now  deign  to  impart  thy  story,  O  my  broth- 
er! "  said  the  old  man,  when  fairly  seated. 

Shems-ud-din  complied  straightway.     He  abated 

136 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

nothing  of  his  own  frowardness,  but  confessed  it 
throughout  the  story,  speaking  much  of  his  soul's  un- 
easiness on  that  account. 

At  the  end,  there  was  silence  for  a  little  space. 
Then  that  old  man  spoke : 

"  During  all  the  years  that  I  have  been  Chief  of 
the  Learned  in  this  place,  never — Allah  witness! — 
never  heard  I  such  a  tale  as  this  thou  hast  related. 
Beloved,  I  see  not  with  thy  eyes ;  I  see  goodness  every- 
where in  thy  conduct,  save  only  in  the  one  point  of  thy 
recourse  to  the  unbeliever,  of  which  thou  madest 
naught  in  the  telling.  This  Frank  is  not  an  infidel  like 
another  infidel.  He  is  of  those  who  openly  oppose 
the  faith.  Is  there  not  a  koran  concerning  such  an 
one :  '  The  worst  beasts  in  God's  sight  are  those  who 
are  obstinate  unbelievers  '?  " 

"  But,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  also  this  koran: 
1  Allah  is  our  Lord  and  your  Lord ;  unto  us  our 
works,  and  unto  you  your  works;  no  quarreling  be- 
tween us  and  you ;  for  Allah  will  gather  in  us  both, 
and  unto  Him  we  shall  return.'  ' 

"  Good.  But  that  word  is  abrogated  in  the  judg- 
ment of  all  the  learned!  " 

"  Not  of  all,  by  thy  leave !  There  be  many  who 
assert  that  no  word  from  Allah  can  be  rendered  null, 
that  this  has  its  season,  and  that  its  season,  but  all  are 

137 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

eternally  valid.  I  was  ever  of  the  party  of  these  last. 
As  to  the  degree  of  intercourse  permissible  with  un- 
believers, and  more  especially  with  the  People  of  the 
Book,  it  is  nowhere  fixed  for  us.  I  could  quote  a  hun- 
dred traditions  in  support  of  either  argument,  and  the 
best  precedents  are  in  like  manner  at  variance.  For 
instance,  if  we  refer  to  the  Sunna " 

"  Stay!    Hast  thou  studied  the  Sunna?  " 

"Assuredly;  and  all  our  commentators  and,  I 
verily  believe,  every  scripture  relevant  to  the  subject." 

"  O  happy  day  forme !  Welcome,  and  again  wel- 
come, O  my  soul !  Deign  now  to  dispute  a  little !  It 
is  seldom  I  can  exercise  my  learning;  very  seldom  I 
am  able  to  confer  with  a  man  like  thee.  The  lamp  of 
knowledge  does  but  smoke  nowadays." 

It  was  long  since  Shems-ud-din  had  enjoyed  con- 
versation with  his  equal  in  learning.  The  two 
sheykhs  held  long  conference,  while  Zeyd  sat  on  his 
heels  watching  them,  and  Shibli  wandered  to  and  fro, 
yawning  frequently  and  viewing  the  wonders  about 
him  with  a  growing  disenchantment. 

At  last  the  old  man  rose  by  the  help  of  Shems-ud- 
din  and  the  attentive  Zeyd.  He  said  : 

"  My  peace  on  thee !  Thou  art  a  prince  of  schol- 
ars, and  a  man  most  righteous.  If  I  perceive  any 
fault  in  thee,  it  is  that  thy  mind  exalts  small  matters, 

138 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

and  overlooks  or  belittles  points  of  real  importance — 
a  common  failing  among  us  learned  in  the  Law,  pro- 
fessed quibblers.  This  matter  of  thy  going  to  the 
Frank  is,  to  my  thinking,  no  trifle.  I  hope  to  convince 
thee  of  the  wrong  in  it  at  some  other  time.  Come 
hither  whenever  thou  art  so  minded;  it  is  a  boon  I 
crave  of  thee.  Ask  for  Mahmud  All,  which  is  my 
name.  And  if  ever  thou  desirest  to  pray  alone,  there 
stand  cells  enough  within  our  precincts,  empty,  for  the 
most  part,  save  in  Ramadan,  which  is  not  yet.  They 
and  all  I  dispose  of  are  thine  to  use,  O  my  soul's 
brother!" 

With  a  parting  benison  the  old  man  hobbled 
away,  bowed  upon  his  staff. 

Shems-ud-din  said  one  last  prayer,  then  went  out 
with  his  companions  into  the  blinding  sunlight. 

Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  raised  his  hands  on  high, 
toward  that  sapphire  dome  which  has  the  world  for 
pavement.  In  a  loud  voice  he  praised  Allah,  and 
blessed  the  day  on  which  it  had  been  given  him  to  wit- 
ness the  meeting  of  two  most  holy  men,  and  garner 
in  his  imagination  a  drop  or  two  of  the  celestial  wis- 
dom that  had  gushed  in  rivers  from  their  mouths. 

Shibli  drew  breath  of  relief,  and  looked  upon  the 
heaped-up,  whitish  city  with  a  lover's  eyes. 


139 


CHAPTER    XI 

"  COME,  O  my  brothers!  Talk  is  vain  when  the 
throat  is  dry  and  the  belly  empty.  Lead  the  way  to 
some  place  where  we  can  eat  together,  and  drink  a  cup 
or  two  of  good  coffee.  So  shall  our  business  prosper 
by  the  blessing  of  Allah." 

"But  we  have  no  money,  O  my  lord!  How 
should  we  soldiers  have  money,  seeing  they  never 
pay  us?  " 

"  With  me  is  money  enough.  Deign  to  eat  and 
drink  at  my  expense,  and  mine  the  honor." 

"  May  Allah  Most  High  repay  your  noble  Ex- 
cellency !  " 

Two  soldiers  of  a  rank  somewhat  above  the  pri- 
vate, accosted  by  Hassan  Agha  amid  the  crowd  in  a 
long  bazaar,  laid  hand  to  breast  and  lip  and  brow, 
bowing  to  his  invitation  as  men  too  greatly  honored. 
Their  tongues  still  wagged  of  reluctance  and  un- 
worthiness  even  while  their  feet  made  speed  toward 
the  place  of  refreshment.  Three  Circassians,  the  com- 
panions of  Hassan's  morning  prowl,  followed  intelli- 

140 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

gently  like  trained  hounds.     Shibli  went  along  with 
them,  mystified  yet  admiring. 

The  tavern  to  which  they  came  was  chill  and  dark 
within.  They  carried  their  stools  to  the  wide  en- 
trance, where  they  could  enjoy  the  relative  warmth 
and  light  of  the  street  without. 

"  Arac,  O  lord  of  good  cheer!  Bring  to  us 
arac!  "  cried  the  soldiers. 

"  Allah  forbid !  "  murmured  Shibli  with  a  start, 
gazing  in  horror  at  those  reckless  ones.  He  knew 
only  that  they  called  for  a  fiery  drink  and  maddening, 
accounted  poison  by  all  faithful  men. 

Thereupon  the  whole  company  burst  out  laugh- 
ing, and  the  tavern  keeper,  attendant  on  their  needs, 
laughed  with  them,  holding  his  belly. 

"Allah  forgive  our  ribaldry!"  said  Hassan. 
'  The  sin  is  ours,  not  his.  Know,  O  my  brothers,  that 
this  is  a  good,  virtuous  youth,  the  disciple  of  a  certain 
holy  one  revered  of  all.  Allah  witness,  and  do  thou 
take  note,  O  Shibli,  that  I,  for  my  part,  touch  not  the 
abomination.  Neither  I  nor  my  companions;  let  it  be 
told  the  sheykh !  "  He  turned  then  to  the  soldiers, 
adding,  "  It  behooves  a  man  to  avoid  small  offenses 
when  he  has  the  uncommon  honor  to  be  the  friend  and 
companion  of  the  holiest  of  living  men.  And  that 
honor  is  upon  all  of  us  here." 
10  141 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

The  soldiers  expressed  their  polite  interest  in 
tones  of  commiseration.  To  sip  their  arac  without 
reproach,  they  had  taken  seat  close  to  a  pillar  of  the 
doorway  which  screened  them,  when  they  leant  to 
drink,  from  the  gaze  of  the  passer-by. 

"  Once,  when  I  was  a  boy,"  said  one  of  them,  en- 
tertaining Shibli  and  the  rest,  while  his  colleague 
spoke  aside  with  Hassan,  "  I  had  the  honor  to  lie 
down  beneath  the  horse  of  a  holy  sheykh — I  and  my 
father  and  my  big  brother  and  a  thousand  more. 
It  was  in  El  Bica'a,  behind  Lebanon.  The  plain  was 
strewn  with  living  bodies.  You  could  not  see  the 
ground  anywhere  between  us.  Then  the  sheykh  rode 
his  horse  over  the  backs  of  us,  and  when  it  came  to  my 
back,  lo,  it  was  to  me  no  more  than  if  some  girl,  mis- 
tress of  beauty,  fondled  me  for  love,  there  where  the 
hoof  pressed.  And  the  spot  has  been  blessed  ever 
since ;  for  when  I  do  evil  it  pains  me,  and  when  I  do 
good  it  is  again  as  if  some  hand  of  love  caressed  me. 
By  Allah,  it  pains  me  now  for  the  sake  of  this  arac — 
a  sin,  as  the  youth  rightly  declared!  ...  A  strange 
thing — not  so,  O  my  masters? 

"  I  remember  to  have  seen,  in  Anadol  far  from 
here,  a  man  who  went  well-nigh  naked,  his  face  like 
the  earth  itself  for  dirt  and  roughness.  A  one-eyed 
man  might  see  that  he  was  holy  above  the  rest  of  us. 

142 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

That  man  leaned  upon  a  sword — upon  the  blade  of 
it,  by  Allah !  so  that  the  point  came  forth  at  his  back. 
Then  he  drew  it  out  slowly,  showing  all  men  how  the 
blood  rained  from  it.  As  for  him,  he  laughed  to  see 
the  red  stuff  fall.  Then,  as  we  looked  for  him  to  die, 
he  began  to  dance,  chanting  praise  to  Allah.  And 
that  he  did  not  once  nor  twice,  but  many  times  before 
he  died.  Strange  things  are  seen  in  the  world,  O  my 
masters !  By  Allah,  I  count  you  fortunate !  I  myself 
would  fain  behold  that  saint  of  yours.  Peradven- 
ture  he  would  grant  me  to  witness  some  marvel 
worth  relating,  like  the  turning  of  wicked  people 
into  dogs.  .  .  ." 

"  The  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  is  no  wandering  der- 
wish,  whose  mind  is  to  cajole  the  vulgar,"  broke  in 
Shibli,  from  the  height  of  indignation.  "  He  is  a 
learned  sheykh  of  the  religion,  a  man  of  high  lineage 
and  great  wealth,  to  whose  wisdom  even  princes  defer 
with  reverence." 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  "  smiled  the  soldier,  but  little 
impressed.  "  Your  talk  had  led  me  to  suppose 
him  otherwise.  Why  call  him  saint,  then?  Has 
he  wrought  no  signs  in  the  land?" 

"  Of  a  truth,  that  has  he,  by  Allah,"  said  Hassan, 
who  had  ended  his  whispered  conference.  "  He 
brought  light  to  the  city  where  we  dwell.  He  is  lord 

143 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

of  the  Jan.  They  have  had  no  master  like  him  since 
the  death  of  Suleyman  the  Wise.  When  his  daugh- 
ter fell  ill,  and  all  help  failed,  it  was  by  advice  of  a 
jinni,  his  slave,  that  he  brought  her  hither,  to  this  city, 
to  the  house  of  a  Frank  physician,  where  she  now  lies. 
Signs,  say  you?  I  assure  you,  by  Allah,  he  is  lord  of 
them  all !  He  knows  the  language  of  beasts,  and  on 
our  way  hither  made  use  of  that  knowledge  to  re- 
store to  a  certain  poor  fellah  his  camel,  which 
had  been  long  lost.  The  fellah,  his  name  Zeyd 
ebn  Abbas,  is  still  with  us.  If  thou  wilt,  thou  canst 
speak  with  him  and  hear  the  wondrous  story  from 
his  own  lips." 

"  Is  it  truth  thou  speakest?  "  asked  one  of  the 
soldiers,  with  a  shrug  aside  to  his  mate. 

"  By  Allah,  it  is  truth!  All  these  are  witnesses 
with  me.  Ask  one  of  them.  Ask  any  man  acquainted 
with  his  holiness !  " 

They  sat  a-row  in  the  wide  archway,  brushed  by 
the  raiment  of  the  throng  without,  hearing  snatches 
of  conversation,  shouts,  laughter,  and  the  ceaseless 
shuffle  of  feet  along  the  stones;  while  at  their  backs 
was  darkness,  save  for  one  red  gleam  of  fire,  which 
the  ample  form  of  the  taverner  kept  eclipsing  as  it 
revolved  in  his  avocations  about  the  brazier. 

"  Allah  knows  I  should  count  it  an  honor  to  be- 
144 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

hold  that  saint  of  yours,"  said  one  of  the  soldiers  at 
length,  in  a  manner  of  resolution. 

"  And  I  also,"  agreed  the  other  in  the  same  tone 
of  belated  conviction. 

"  That  is  easy.  If  Allah  will,  we  shall  find  him 
without  difficulty." 

"  Let  us  go,  then !  " 

"  Slowly,  slowly,  O  my  two  dear  ones!  "  Has- 
san's face  turned  cunning  in  the  mold  of  thought. 
"  Is  our  business  settled  quite?  No,  I  think  not  so. 
We  have  not  yet  appointed  an  hour  for  the  transac- 
tion. Let  it  be  after  to-morrow,  toward  the  fifth 
hour  of  night.  What  say  you?  " 

The  soldiers  shook  their  heads. 

"  No,"  said  each,  upon  reflection.  "  After  to- 
morrow is  the  great  feast  of  the  Nazarenes — of  half 
of  them,  that  is  to  say ;  for  the  two  halves  quarrel  so 
that  they  cannot  even  keep  festival  upon  the  same 
day.  ...  It  is  the  busiest  of  the  year  for  us.  We 
shall  stop  their  fighting  in  the  church;  and  after  that, 
it  is  likely,  we  shall  be  called  upon  to  keep  order  in 
the  streets  of  the  city.  It  is  work  enough  for  one  day. 
Let  our  business  stand  over  till  the  night  beyond." 

"  As  you  will,"  said  Hassan,  playing  indifference. 
"  But  I  would  have  the  goods  as  soon  as  possible.  My 
eyes  have  perceived  certain  rascals  in  the  garb  of  the 

145 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Bedawi  prowling  near  the  castle  and  whispering  with 
you  soldiers.  Now,  I  adjure  you,  face  the  matter! 
View  it  fairly  with  clean  eyes !  Are  we  not — my  men 
and  I — loyal  servants  of  the  Sultan  appointed  from 
of  old  to  guard  the  Eastern  portals  of  this  land,  and 
so  entitled  to  arms  and  ammunition  like  you  others? 
As  for  the  Bedu,  what  are  they?  Marauders,  thieves, 
murderers — Allah  knows  them !  It  were  a  crime  to 
give  them  the  preference !  " 

The  soldiers  exchanged  sly  glances,  swift  as  sword 
thrusts.  Said  one  of  them,  cringing,  "  What  sayest 
thou,  O  Excellency?  The  Bedu!  .  .  .  Allah  pity! 
What  Bedu?" 

"  Perchance,"  thrust  in  the  other  with  an  air  of 
extreme  candor,  "  our  good  lord  would  allude  to  cer- 
tain tribesmen  who,  calling  themselves  Catholics,  are 
come  up  to  fight  at  the  feast." 

Hassan  laughed.  "  Think  not  I  trust  you.  Re- 
member only  that,  in  the  place  where  I  dwell,  it  is 
counted  death  to  offend  Hassan  Agha.  .  .  .  And 
now,  unless  your  desire  is  changed,  we  will  show  you 
the  saint  of  whom  we  talked  but  now." 

"  With  joy  and  alacrity,"  replied  the  soldiers. 

All,  rising,  kicked  back  their  stools.  They  smiled 
one  to  another,  showing  white  teeth,  as  they  yawned 
and  stretched  themselves.  Hassan  told  some  small 

146 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

gleaming  coins  into  the  grimed  hand  of  the  tav- 
erner,  thrust  out  in  anticipation  from  the  inner 
gloom. 

Suddenly,  with  a  muttered  exclamation  not  of 
blessing,  the  soldiers  dodged  behind  the  stone  door- 
post. The  hindmost,  upsetting  a  stool,  cursed  its  re- 
ligion as  it  fell.  In  the  covered  way  without,  they  had 
seen  a  young  officer  riding  upon  a  black  horse,  slowly, 
because  of  the  crowd.  It  was  Abd-ur-Rahman  Bey. 

Hassan  Agha  stood  forward  with  a  jaunty  air,  a 
hand  on  his  white  mustache. 

"Hail,  O  sun  of  soldiery!  May  thy  day  be 
happy,  O  child  of  a  blessed  birth!  Deign  to  dis- 
mount and  drink  one  cup  of  coffee  with  him  who  first 
taught  thee  to  handle  sword  and  gun !  " 

His  design  in  thus  shouting  before  the  multitude 
was  simply  to  vex  the  false  pride  of  the  son  of  Shems- 
ud-din.  It  amazed  him  to  have  his  salutation  re- 
turned twofold,  to  see  the  proud  youth  alight  and 
give  his  horse  to  a  bystander. 

"  How  is  thy  health,  O  Hassan,  light  of  my 
eyes?"  inquired  Abd-ur-Rahman,  smiling,  as  they 
touched  hands.  "  And  thou,  O  Shibli :  is  all  well  with 
thee?  .  .  .  How  is  Alia?  How  the  dear  old  man?  " 

He  chose  for  seat  one  of  those  stools  which  the 
soldiers  had  just  vacated,  next  to  that  which  was  over- 

147 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

turned.  Straightway  he  became  aware  of  a  shuffling 
close  at  hand,  and,  looking  round  the  doorpost,  beheld 
two  of  his  own  men. 

"What  is  this,  O  Muhammed— O  Rashid?  " 
he  asked,  smiling.  "  Is  my  face  this  morning  so  ter- 
rible that  you  must  hide  from  it?  Come  forth,  O 
foolish  ones,  and  attend  me  to  the  castle,  whither  I  go 
presently.  .  .  .  O  Hassan,  a  word  with  thee  in  pri- 
vate, by  thy  leave !  " 

He  carried  his  stool  into  the  inner  gloom,  and 
Hassan  followed  him.  They  conversed  apart  until 
the  coffee  was  served,  when  they  brought  back  their 
stools  into  the  light  of  the  doorway.  Hassan  reap- 
peared frowning,  but  the  countenance  of  the  young 
cai'd  beamed,  as  before,  of  an  imperturbable  good 
humor. 

Abd-ur-Rahman  stayed  but  to  swallow  a  cupful  of 
coffee;  then  rose,  smiling  on  the  company,  and  took 
leave.  The  two  soldiers  followed  him  with  the  de- 
meanor of  whipped  curs.  They  went  forward  to  offer 
him  assistance  at  mounting  his  horse,  and  he  availed 
himself  of  their  obsequiousness,  still  smiling. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah,"  muttered  Hassan,  as  he  watched 
them  depart.  "  To  reflect  that  it  is  but  a  youth,  one 
whom  yesterday  I  held  upon  my  knee.  By  the  Lord 
of  Heaven  and  Earth,  he  is  a  devil!  .  .  .  That  is 

148 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

not  the  son  of  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din !  It  is  the  son 
of  Milhem  Pasha,  Eblis  in  person !  " 

As  they  sauntered  forth  in  search  of  the  sheykh, 
he  continued : 

"  May  it  please  you,  he  forbids  us  to  touch  a 
rifle.  He  says  that  he  will  apply  to  the  authorities 
on  our  behalf  for  a  special  grant.  The  praise  to 
Allah  !  We  shall  wait  a  hundred  years  and  see  never 
a  cartridge!  Our  need  is  instant,  and  if  we  get  not 
the  things,  others  less  worthy  will  presently  obtain 
them.  I  know  these  outlying  garrisons.  At  Istanbul 
or  Edreyneh  it  may  be  different.  But  for  Esh-Sham, 
El  Cuds,  Haleb,  there  is  one  way  in  all  of  them." 

He  ceased  not  to  growl  in  soliloquy. 

They  had  entered  a  narrow  alley  of  the  Mus- 
lim quarter,  strolling  as  their  manner  was,  when  there 
came  a  sound  of  feet  hurrying  after,  and  a  ragged 
soldier  overtook  them,  sweating  and  out  of  breath. 

"  Say,  is  not  one  among  you  the  excellent  Hassan 
Agha,  whom  Allah  preserve?" 

"  I  am  he." 

The  man  louted.  "  A  word  from  the  Bimbashi 
Muhammed — he  that  had  charge  of  the  armory 
(Allah  witness  how  I  ran  to  overtake  thee,  question- 
ing all  men  as  I  ran;  for  I  had  but  a  hint  of  thy  like- 
ness and  the  number  of  thy  companions  from  him 

149 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

who  sent  me) — a  word  from  the  Bimbashi  Muham- 
med  which  he  whispered  to  me  in  the  castle  yard  as 
he  went  to  durance :  '  Attempt  nothing,  for  the  love 
of  Allah!  Lay  aside  thy  purpose.  For  things  are 
not  as  of  wont.' ' 

"  Good.  I  thank  thee."  Hassan  bestowed  on 
the  man  a  coin  and  received  his  blessing  in  exchange. 
He  appeared  unmoved  by  the  tidings. 

'  The  day  wears  on,"  he  said.  "  Let  us  go  at 
once  to  the  sheykh,  for  I  am  impatient  to  hear  his 
news." 

"  At  this  hour  we  shall  find  him  in  the  Haram," 
asserted  Shibli,  who  was  supposed  to  know. 

Toward  the  sanctuary  they  went  accordingly.  It 
had  thundered  in  the  night;  the  day  had  dawned  in 
rain,  and  so  continued  until  the  third  hour.  But  now 
the  clouds  were  rolled  away  to  eastward.  As  the 
little  group  emerged  from  the  buried  ways  of  the 
city  on  to  the  open  ground  below  the  shrine,  Omar's 
dome  was  a  dew-drenched  flower  in  the  sunlight,  the 
scattered  cypress  trees  pricked  a  sky  of  dreamy  blue. 

At  the  top  of  the  steps,  along  the  edge  of  the 
noble  terrace,  rose  divers  little  cubic  buildings  like 
to  tombs.  Their  open  arches  gave  the  effect  of 
mouths  gaping  on  the  central  dome. 

On  the  threshold  of  one  of  those  alcoves,  gaz- 
150 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ing  raptly  in,  squatted  Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas.  The 
fellah  laid  a  finger  to  his  lip  at  their  approach. 

"  Hush !  "  he  whispered  and  pointed.  There,  in 
the  white  recess,  sat  Shems-ud-din,  stiffly  rocking  to 
and  fro,  his  face  set,  his  eyes  steadfastly  downcast. 
"  The  health  of  the  girl  is  worse  to-day.  She  knew 
him  not.  Let  Allah  comfort  him !  " 

All  murmured  of  compassion  and  reverence. 
Shibli  threw  himself  down  beside  Zeyd,  in  the  same 
shadow  with  his  master.  The  rest  sat  on  their  heels 
in  the  sunshine,  enjoying  that  sight  of  holiness. 


CHAPTER  XII 

SHEMS-UD-DIN  now  divided  his  days  between  the 
house  of  the  physician  and  that  tomblike  cell;  and 
the  two  scenes  overlapped  and  obscured  one  another, 
becoming  confounded  in  his  imagination.  In  those 
days  his  thoughts  but  brushed  our  earth  as  with  the 
skirt  of  an  outer  robe.  The  Angels  of  Life  and 
Death  were  his  elect  companions.  When,  repairing 
at  nightfall  to  the  khan,  he  descried  known  faces, 
met  the  outcry  of  condolence,  it  was  with  the  blind- 
ness of  a  sun  gazer,  with  the  deafness  of  one  long 
a  stranger  to  men's  talk. 

Yet,  even  in  the  deep  of  anguish  there  were  mo- 
ments when  he  saw  and  heard;  and  those  moments 
showered  gold  in  the  lap  of  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas,  his  dog- 
like  attendant.  They  repaid  the  hours  which  the 
whilom  owner  of  a  playful  camel  had  spent  in  silence 
at  his  feet;  the  times  when,  unthanked,  unperceived, 
Zeyd  had  guided  his  master's  steps  through  the 
crowd. 

These  brief  communings  with  his  lord,  which 
were  all  the  wages  of  Zeyd,  took  place  generally  at 

152 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  cell  on  the  edge  of  the  close,  where  Shems-ud-din 
seemed  most  content.  The  fellah  too  loved  that 
spot  above  all  others  of  the  city.  Squatting  in  the 
sunshine  of  that  holy  place,  near  by  a  world-famed 
shrine,  himself  the  guardian  of  a  saint,  he  was  con- 
scious of  laying  up  a  store  of  sanctity,  of  pious  mem- 
ories, to  sustain  him  through  the  rest  of  life.  When 
the  aged  Mahmud  Ali  came,  as  often  happened,  to 
observe  and  bemoan  the  sad  case  of  a  fellow-sage, 
he  never  failed  to  bless  Zeyd  and  praise  his  fidelity. 
So  that  that  simple  man  cried  in  his  soul: 

"  How  great  my  happiness !  Behold,  I  grow 
daily  in  goodness,  without  effort,  even  as  flowers 
grow,  through  converse  with  such  holy  ones.  They 
scorn  me  not  as  do  the  Circassians,  who,  therefore, 
it  is  well  seen,  are  but  low  people." 

At  the  house  of  the  Frank  physician,  while  Shems- 
ud-din  remained  in  the  sick  room,  Zeyd  was  accus- 
tomed to  sit  with  Mas  and  Ismail  the  doorkeeper  in 
the  little  court.  But  the  two  old  negroes  were  not 
instructive;  their  happiness  consisted  in  holding  one 
another's  hand  and  smiling  foolishly.  Zeyd's  mind, 
apt  to  wander  from  such  converse,  hung  in  danger 
from  the  charms  of  a  barefaced  serving  woman,  who 
kept  crossing  and  recrossing  the  court — of  set  pur- 
pose, he  supposed,  to  entice  him.  Only  by  the  mercy 

153 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

of  Allah  did  he  escape  the  daily  snare  of  her.  As 
the  companion  of  a  great  saint,  he  had  taken  the 
pilgrim's  vow  of  total  abstinence. 

On  an  evening  when  Zeyd  sat  thus  resisting  temp- 
tation in  the  company  of  old  Mas  (the  doorkeeper 
having  gone  forth  to  drink  the  air  and  display  a  new 
garment,  gift  of  the  Frank  his  master),  Shems-ud- 
din  came  down  from  the  place  of  sickness,  showing  a 
countenance  far  brighter  than  he  was  wont  to  bear. 

The  two  arose  and,  bowing,  put  their  question; 
to  which  he  replied : 

"  The  praise  to  Allah !  This  morning  I  dared 
not  rejoice,  but  this  evening,  seeing  the  improvement 
still  maintained,  I  render  thanks  to  God.  Come,  O 
Zeyd,  O  Mas,  walk  with  me  a  little  in  the  streets  of 
the  city.  Let  us  view  the  much  merchandise  and  the 
throng  of  men,  for  my  soul  is  glad  within  me." 

Upon  that  Mas,  seeing  his  master's  soul  at  ease, 
ventured  upon  a  petition  he  had  long  borne  it  in  his 
mind  to  make.  Stooping,  he  touched  the  hem  of 
Shems-ud-dm's  robe,  then  kissed  the  hand  which  had 
touched  it.  He  exclaimed: 

"  Deign  to  hear  me,  O  my  lord !  I  ask  a  favor 
— a  small  thing,  far  beneath  thee.  There  dwell  here 
in  the  city  many  poor  men,  servants,  black  like  me. 
These  meet  together  privately  to  be  judged  of  their 

154 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

sheykh,  who  is  no  other  than  Ismail,  the  doorkeeper 
at  this  house.  They  seek  the  right,  but  as  the  street 
dogs  seek,  whom  no  man  stoops  to  feed.  Their 
prayer  is  through  me  unto  thee,  O  my  master,  that 
thou  wilt  grant  them  a  little  instruction.  This  is  the 
Day  of  Assembly,  when  they  meet  always  toward 
sunset.  Vouchsafe  to  honor  them,  and  I,  thy  slave, 
will  guide  thee  to  the  place." 

"With  pleasure  and  alacrity,"  replied  Shems-ud- 
din,  and  the  teeth  of  the  negro  gleamed  forth  in 
satisfaction. 

Forthwith,  at  his  accustomed  mooning  pace,  Mas 
set  about  his  preparations.  From  out  a  vault,  where- 
of the  door  stood  open,  he  produced  a  lantern,  which 
he  opened  to  be  sure  the  candle  was  not  spent.  He 
put  a  box  of  Frankish  matches  within  the  frame,  shut 
to  the  glass,  and,  taking  a  staff  that  leaned  against 
the  wall,  smiled  of  readiness. 

Zeyd,  with  Shems-ud-din,  followed  him  out  into 
the  streets,  where  forms  moved  vaguely  in  rich  lights 
and  shadows,  like  the  concourse  of  a  dream. 

Zeyd  raised  his  eyes  to  the  sky,  a  blue  eye  of  love 
perusing  the  sun-red  city,  and  his  thoughts  were  a 
lump  in  his  throat.  At  length  men  recognized  the 
holiness  of  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din;  at  last  they 
cried  to  him  for  light.  Surely  Allah  had  smitten  the 

155 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

multitude  with  blindness;  certainly  the  notables  of 
this  city,  her  merchants,  her  high  officials  were  as 
blind  as  their  own  walls.  Allah  had  put  out  their 
eyes,  as  He  had  put  out  those  of  Hassan  Agha  the 
iniquitous  and  his  crew  of  reprobates.  It  had  been 
reserved  for  a  poor  fellah,  for  a  few  low  negroes,  to 
perceive  and  welcome  the  blessing  from  on  high. 

They  crossed  the  open  space  before  the  tower, 
where  was  noise  and  much  people,  shadows  in  an 
amber  glow,  and  thence  passed  by  dim  and  quiet 
ways  through  the  Armenian  quarter.  Here  and 
there,  along  the  coping  of  old  walls,  the  leaves  of 
stone  plants  burned  like  tongues  of  flame.  A  gate 
yawned  on  them  suddenly,  its  square  tower  red  in  the 
stream  of  sunset.  It  let  them  out  on  to  the  brink  of 
a  gorge  full  of  dusty  gloom. 

Mas  kept  to  the  top  of  the  rocks,  close  along  by 
the  foot  of  the  wall.  Following,  through  deep  shad- 
ows, Zeyd  in  mind  compared  himself  to  one  proved 
faithful  passing,  by  support  of  the  Prophet,  over  the 
hair  bridge  into  Paradise.  Between  black  wall  and 
blue  abyss,  their  path  ran,  a  very  thread.  The 
ravines  seemed  fathomless.  The  high  hills  were  of 
the  sky,  all  warmth.  The  features  of  the  landscape 
were  transfigured,  exaggerated,  made  monstrous  with 
excess  of  color  like  an  opium  dream.  Yet  though  he 

156 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

felt  as  one  poised  in  mid-air,  Zeyd  knew  no  fear;  hav- 
ing with  him  the  saint,  that  enchanter  whose  mere 
neighborhood  made  a  seer  of  the  poor  fellah. 

At  a  turn  of  the  wall,  Mas  waited  for  them  to 
overtake  him.  There  a  wide  prospect  was  revealed. 
Far  away,  across  a  darkling  sea  of  ridge  and  gully, 
stood  a  pile  all  rosy  in  the  sun's  last  rays.  It  was  the 
rampart  of  their  own  wild  land,  which  frowns  at 
dawn  upon  the  Sea  of  Lot.  Shems-ud-din  stood 
still  to  gaze  upon  that  distant  splendor.  But  Mas 
plucked  his  robe. 

"  Behold  the  assembly,  O  my  master!  " 

The  stretch  of  embattled  wall  seemed  of  iron, 
bounding  a  hearth  of  colored  fires.  It  cast  such 
gloom  upon  the  rocks,  that  Zeyd  must  look  twice  ere 
he  discerned  the  white  of  turbans  and  men's  raiment 
near  at  hand. 

"  Great  honor  is  on  all  of  you!  "  cried  Mas,  as 
he  moved  on.  A  group  of  men,  set  in  circle  upon  a 
grass-clad  crown  of  rock  beneath  the  wall,  rose  as 
one  and  did  obeisance  with  words  of  blessing. 

"  Pursue  your  business,  I  entreat  you,"  said 
Shems-ud-din  graciously,  taking  seat  with  them. 
"  Let  not  my  presence  trouble  you.  I  would  listen 
awhile  before  I  speak." 

After  some  polite  demur,  the  blacks  resumed  their 
11  157 


conference;  and  Shems-ud-din  listened  with  interest, 
but  the  mind  of  Zeyd  turned  again  to  the  contempla- 
tion of  its  own  blessedness. 

One  of  the  circle,  who  was  called  the  Pearl, 
told  with  much  childish  lamentation  how  he  had  been 
wrongfully  accused  of  theft,  and  beaten  by  his  mas- 
ter. "  I  know  well  the  thief,"  he  blubbered.  "  And 
my  back  is  sore.  I  would  see  him  punished.  Is  it 
right  that  I  inform  my  master?" 

Then  their  head,  that  was  the  doorkeeper  of  the 
Frank  physician,  stroked  his  beard  and  answered 
thoughtfully : 

"  To  steal  is  not  good.  Where  I  was  born,  they 
cut  off  the  right  hand  of  him  who  steals.  But  here 
it  is  otherwise.  Here  be  many  thieves,  very  wicked 
men.  .  .  .  Inform  not  against  thy  fellow-servant, 
now  that  thy  trial  is  past.  In  the  moment  of  pain  it 
had  been  well  enough  to  name  him.  Thou  art  young, 
O  Pearl,  and  strong,  none  like  thee.  Take  that  thief 
apart,  and  beat  him  even  as  thou  wast  beaten,  that 
he  sin  no  more." 

When  the  negroes  ceased  to  praise  God  for  that 
wise  judgment,  another  cause  was  brought  forward. 
But  Zeyd  heard  no  more.  Watching  the  blush  fade 
upon  those  distant  heights,  the  wall  of  his  own  land, 
he  sat  entranced  by  the  mystery  of  being. 

158 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

The  buzz  of  voices  ceased.  He  heard  as  if  in 
a  dream  the  voice  of  Ismail  say: 

"  Deign  now  to  instruct  us,  O  master!  " 

"  It  is  I  who  have  received  instruction,  O  thou 
Locman  of  this  age,"  replied  Shems-ud-din ;  and  the 
tones  of  his  voice  unclosed  Zeyd's  consciousness,  like 
the  sun's  touch  on  a  flower.  "  Allah  is  with  you  sim- 
ple ones.  Verily  the  mercy  of  Allah  is  the  free  spring 
of  the  poor." 

And  he  continued  speaking  of  the  mercy  of  Allah 
in  such  splendid  terms  that  Zeyd  caught  fire  at  them 
and  seemed  inspired,  he  also  crying:  "  Hear  him!  " 
"  O  Allah !  "  "  O  Lord !  "  "  His  mouth  is  gold !  " 
"  Praise  to  Allah!  "  "  I  faint!  "  "  I  die!  "  moaning 
and  sighing  gustily  like  one  possessed. 

The  end  of  the  speech  was  for  Zeyd  like  a  dazed 
awakening.  He  saw  the  negroes  rise,  a  dark  mass, 
and  heard  them  praise  Allah  for  that  grand  dis- 
course. Then  he  saw  Mas  with  the  lantern  lighted, 
and  thereby  knew  that  it  was  night  and  time  to  move. 

The  light  danced  and  wavered  before  him,  a 
thing  unreal.  They  were  back  in  the  heart  of  the 
city  ere  he  knew  they  had  passed  the  gate.  Mas  and 
the  sheykh  of  the  negroes  stalked  on  ahead,  the  lan- 
tern between  them.  Zeyd  himself  followed  close 
upon  Shems-ud-din.  All  at  once  he  remembered  that 

159 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

they  were  going  now  to  the  khan,  to  the  companions, 
and  a  sudden  jealousy  inflamed  him. 

He  said,  "  O  my  master,  where  is  the  youth 
Shibli,  thy  disciple?  This  day  makes  the  second 
that  he  has  not  been  near  thee.  He  grows  bad 
with  the  Circassians,  who  set  their  minds  to  cor- 
rupt him." 

"  Hassan  Agha  has  much  business.  And  it  is 
natural  that  Shibli  should  desire  to  see  the  city  in 
his  company." 

"  And  thy  son.  May  Allah  guard  me  from  be- 
getting one  like  him.  Since  the  day  of  our  arrival  he 
has  not  once  visited  thee." 

"  Doubtless  he  has  been  at  the  khan  in  my 
absence." 

"  Not  so,  for  I  have  made  inquiry." 

"  He  has  his  duties,  and  the  pleasures  of  his  age. 
He  is  young,  I  am  old.  In  distress  I  ask  no  company 
save  thine,  O  kind  one!  " 

"  May  Allah  requite  thee,  O  my  dear  lord !  " 

At  the  house  of  the  Frank,  Shems-ud-din  entered 
with  the  negroes  for  the  purpose  of  complimenting 
the  physician  upon  the  improvement  wrought  in  Alia. 
After  a  very  little  while  he  rejoined  Zeyd,  who  at 
once  felt  a  change  in  his  demeanor. 

"  What  is  there  new,  O  my  master?  " 
1 60 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

'  The  hakim,  that  excellent  man,  assures  me  that 
my  daughter  cannot  live." 

Zeyd  laughed,  a  short  and  angry  laugh.  "  Is  he 
then  Allah?  "  he  asked  scornfully. 

But  Shems-ud-din  no  longer  heard  him. 


161 


CHAPTER  XIII 

'  THY  son — since  the  first  day  he  has  not  visited 
thee.  Allah  guard  me  from  begetting  one  like  him." 

The  reproach  of  Zeyd,  scarce  heeded  at  the  mo- 
ment, linked  Shems-ud-din's  reveries  on  the  morrow 
of  its  utterance,  recurring  often  like  a  sad  refrain. 
It  prevented  his  submersion  in  that  stupor  of  prayer- 
ful musing  which  was  his  comfort.  Yet  not  until 
noon  was  past,  and  the  shadow  of  the  gracious  dome 
drew  out  to  eastward,  did  it  hold  the  foreground  of 
his  thought. 

The  aged  Mahmud  Ali  had  come  to  sit  with  him 
awhile,  and  was  reciting  words  of  comfort  in  the  high 
mosque  voice,  when  Shems-ud-din  asked  himself, 
Was  Abd-ur-Rahman  all  to  blame?  Had  not  the 
father  likewise  a  duty  toward  the  son  ?  •  To  be  sure 
that  his  mind  did  not  err,  he  said  presently  to  the 
aged  sheykh,  his  comforter : 

"  O  my  brother,  hear  a  case  and  pronounce  on  it. 
A  certain  man  had  offspring  a  son  and  daughter, 
those  two  only,  both  dear  to  him.  Yet  did  the  bal- 
ance of  his  love  incline  toward  the  daughter.  One 

162 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

day  he  appeared  to  slight  the  boy,  making  much 
of  the  girl.  And  the  boy  was  angry  and  drew 
away  from  him.  Was  the  right  with  the  son  or 
the  father?  Upon  which  of  them  two  rests  the 
obligation?  " 

Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  on  his  heels  out  in  the 
sunlight,  emitted  an  "  Ah !  "  of  breathless  interest. 
The  aged  Mahmud  Ali  stroked  his  beard,  reflecting. 
At  length  he  replied : 

'  There  is  right  with  both  of  them,  and  against 
both.  But  the  higher  right  is  with  the  son.  For  did 
not  his  father  reverse  the  ordinance  of  God  by  set- 
ting the  woman  above  the  man?  Less  is  expected 
from  a  woman,  it  is  for  that  she  should  receive  less. 
I  perceive  that  the  case  is  thine.  Is  the  son  with  thee 
in  this  city?  " 

"  Let  the  case  be  a  case  like  another,"  said  Shems- 
ud-din,  unwilling  to  betray  his  son's  name. 

Zeyd  moaned.  "  It  is  too  much  for  me.  My 
blessedness  is  become  a  pain  in  my  side.  Surely  never 
till  now  was  man,  poor  and  ignorant  like  me,  privi- 
leged to  hear  such  wisdom." 

The  verdict  of  the  Chief  of  the  Learned  removed 
all  hesitation  from  the  mind  of  Shems-ud-din.  Ac- 
cordingly, about  the  fourth  hour  after  noon,  some 
time  before  he  was  wont  to  repair  to  the  side  of  Alia, 

163 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

he  entered  the  streets  of  the  city,  and  bade  Zeyd  dis- 
cover the  whereabouts  of  the  Bey's  lodging.  In  this 
they  experienced  no  difficulty,  everyone  consulted 
making  haste  to  direct  them  with  reverence  for  the 
callers  on  so  great  a  man.  Zeyd,  finding  his  beggarly 
appearance  overlooked,  grew  less  rigid  in  dislike  of 
a  youth  whose  name  had  so  genial  an  influence.  Still 
it  was  with  relief,  on  arrival  at  their  destination,  that 
he  heard  the  doorkeeper  inform  his  master  that  the 
Bey  was  out,  and  unlikely  to  return  ere  night. 

The  tidings  cast  down  Shems-ud-din.  Made  aim- 
less by  disappointment,  he  wandered  in  the  streets. 
Zeyd  followed  unobtrusively,  his  shadow  always. 
The  disciple  was  racking  his  brain  for  an  array  of 
words  fine  and  imposing  enough  to  comfort  one 
so  accomplished,  when,  in  passing  the  entrance  of  a 
tavern,  Shems-ud-din  happened  to  glance  therein. 

"  Praise  to  Allah !  "  he  exclaimed  suddenly. 
"  Behold  him  there.  He  is  found."  And  he  turned 
in  beneath  the  low  arch,  Zeyd  at  his  heels. 

The  vault  within  struck  dark  and  very  cool.  It 
was  empty  save  for  the  proprietor  (a  portly  Naz- 
arene)  and  a  group  of  three  Turkish  officers  set  on 
stools  round  a  small  table.  Of  these,  two  seemed 
sons  of  an  Arab ;  but  the  fez  of  the  third  and  eldest 
sealed  the  face  of  a  Frank.  The  eyes  of  this  last 

164 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

were  blue,  his  cheeks  ruddy,  his  mustache  had  the 
color  of  ripe  wheat. 

At  Shems-ud-din's  glad  cry  the  three  turned 
startled  faces.  Only  one  rose  up  in  response  to  his 
salutation,  and  that  was  Abd-ur-Rahman.  The 
other  two  kept  their  seats,  staring  aghast  at  the 
intrusion.  And  Abd-ur-Rahman  did  not  rush  to 
embrace  his  father,  but  hung  back,  the  picture  of 
irresolution. 

Blind  to  this  reluctance,  Shems-ud-din  took  a  stool 
beside  his  son,  while  Zeyd  crossed  his  legs  upon  the 
ground  hard  by. 

"  I  come  to  reproach  thee  a  little,  O  my  dear! 
Why  hast  thou  failed  my  soul  these  many  days  when 
I  need  thy  love  for  a  staff?  Thou  hast  shown  no 
concern  for  Alia,  who  often  cries  for  thee.  It  is  not 
kind,  O  beloved!" 

"  O  my  eyes,  I  have  so  much  business.  Ask  of 
these,  my  companions,  and  they  will  certify  thee." 

"  Ah,  by  Allah,  business  enough  to  kill  ten  yoke 
of  oxen,  yet  we  survive  somehow,"  affirmed  he  of  the 
red  face  mockingly.  "  Drink  something,  old  man. 
With  me  the  money." 

"  May  thy  wealth  increase;  I  am  not  thirsty," 

said   Shems-ud-din   stiffly,    disliking  the   man's   tone. 

'  What  is  that  thou  drinkest,  O  my  son?    It  must  be 

165 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

precious  as  attar  of  roses  to  be  served  in  so  small  a 
glass.  Doubtless  it  is  some  sherbet  new  to  me.  The 
caterers  invent  fresh  kinds  from  year  to  year." 

Abd-ur-Rahman  muttered  unintelligibly.  He 
had  done  all  man  could  to  conceal  his  glass. 

"  That  is  it,  by  Allah,"  laughed  the  two  others. 
"  A  new  sherbet.  Taste  and  judge  of  its  composi- 
tion, O  my  uncle." 

"  I  thank  you,  no."  Shems-ud-din  drew  back 
from  the  glass  thrust  on  him.  He  began  to  resent 
the  manner  of  these  youths.  Why  did  not  Abd-ur- 
Rahman  restrain  their  insolence?  He  looked  to  his 
son  in  indignant  appeal,  but  the  lad's  face  was  turned 
away,  his  attitude  helpless. 

"  Then  shall  the  valiant  emir,  thy  companion, 
taste  thereof.  Come,  O  Commander  of  the  Faith- 
ful. Ennoble  this  little  glass." 

Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  took  the  glass  held  out  to 
him,  sniffed  at  the  liquor,  and  then  poured  it  out  upon 
the  ground. 

"  It  is  accursed,  a  sin  for  any  man.  Let  the  dirt 
drink  it,"  he  said  coolly. 

At  that  the  jokers  laughed  immoderately. 

"  Thou  dog !  "  cried  he  of  the  straw  mustache, 
whose  drink  it  was  that  was  spilt.  "  Thou  hast 
wasted  a  day's  wage  of  one  like  thee.  Thank  Allah 

166 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

that  I  beat  thee  not  until  thou  clog  thy  belly  with 
the  dirt  it  soaks." 

But  Abd-ur- Rahman  joined  not  in  their  laughter. 
He  kept  his  face  averted  from  his  father,  and  his 
whole  pose  announced  such  perfect  wretchedness  that 
Shems-ud-din,  feeling  concern  for  him,  touched  his 
arm,  asking: 

"  What  hurts  thee,  O  my  son?  " 

"  Nothing.  There  is  nothing,"  came  the  answer 
like  a  moan. 

"  It  is  this  new  sherbet/'  roared  the  other  two. 
"  It  cools,  and  he  has  drunk  too  much  of  it.  It  has 
iced  his  belly.  Fear  not,  O  my  uncle.  He  has  a  girl 
— ah,  a  beauty !  who  will  expel  the  evil  for  him." 

At  that,  perceiving  they  made  game  of  him,  the 
Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  arose  with  dignity. 

"  Allah  shall  teach  you  with  punishment.  Your 
own  fathers  are  dishonored  in  that  you  respect  not  my 
beard  and  turban,"  he  said ;  and  without  further  words 
strode  forth  into  the  street,  followed  with  alacrity  by 
Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas. 

The  tavern  keeper,  seeing  customers  driven  forth 
before  they  had  ordered  anything,  ran  after  and  en- 
treated them  to  remain  and  honor  him.  In  low  tones 
he  apologized  for  the  rudeness  of  the  young  officers. 

"  They  have  no  manners,  they  respect  nothing. 
167 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

The  others  are  bad  enough,  but  that  Nemsawi  is  the 
lord  of  mischief.  Before  now  he  has  broken  my  chat- 
tels without  so  much  as  a  blessing.  He  pays  for  noth- 
ing. Keep  it  not  against  me,  O  my  lords,  but  return 
and  taste  of  something.  Ennoble  my  poor  place." 

Shems-ud-din  walked  on,  leaving  him  to  groan 
and  wring  his  hands  upon  the  threshold. 

The  jeers  of  the  young  men  accompanied  the 
departure.  But  Abd-ur-Rahman  neither  spoke  nor 
moved.  The  last  Zeyd  saw  of  him,  his  face  was 
buried  in  his  hands. 


168 


CHAPTER   XIV 

DEPRIVED  of  the  counsel  of  Shems-ud-dm,  de- 
moralized by  confinement  within  walls,  the  little 
band  of  Circassians  loitered  in  the  markets  with  a 
sense  of  grievance.  The  sight  of  so  many  heathen 
— Franks  and  Nazarenes  and  unclean  Jews — dis- 
gusted them  in  the  city;  and  when  they  rode  out 
to  exercise  their  horses,  the  need  to  return  went 
with  them,  killing  pleasure,  like  the  clank  of  a 
heavy  chain. 

At  the  end  of  ten  days  squandered  in  El  Cuds, 
Hassan  Agha  was  further  from  obtaining  his  rifles 
than  he  had  been  at  first  passing  the  gate.  The  sol- 
diers avoided  him;  it  seemed  they  had  their  orders. 
Abd-ur-Rahman,  though  smiling  when  they  met  in  the 
street,  steadfastly  refused  him  audience.  On  the 
fourteenth  day  he  faced  the  stern  necessity,  if  they 
were  to  stay  much  longer  in  that  money-eating  place, 
of  selling  one  of  the  lovely  steeds  which  were  their 
glory. 

In  a  certain  tavern  he  cast  lots  with  his  men,  whose 
horse  should  go;  and  the  lot  fell  upon  Nesib  the 

169 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Thief,  who  straightway  lifted  up  his  voice  and  wept. 
Yet  even  he  preferred  the  sacrifice  to  a  shameful  re- 
treat, as  though  worsted  by  the  boy  Abd-ur-Rahman, 
while  their  beloved  saint  and  his  daughter,  sole  pre- 
text of  their  coming,  still  abode  in  the  city.  They  had 
taken  it  for  granted  beforehand  that  the  cure  of  Alia 
by  the  wizard  would  be  instantaneous,  a  mere  wave 
of  the  hand,  and  resented  its  slowness  as  a  deceit  of 
the  heathen  dog. 

Yet  they  were  restrained  from  ventilating  this 
grievance,  and  so  easing  their  minds,  by  a  captious 
whim  of  Hassan's  to  uphold  the  Prankish  pig. 

"  He  is  an  English  physician.  If  Allah  permits, 
he  will  perform  his  part,"  was  the  answer  to  their 
grumblings. 

"  What  change  is  this,  O  lord  Hassan !  "  cried 
one,  thus  repressed.  "  Is  an  Englishman  other  than 
a  Frank,  a  vile  infidel?  Did  they  not  deliver  our  land 
to  the  Muscovite,  even  while  they  touched  our  hands 
in  friendship?  How  often  hast  thou  denounced  the 
whole  brood  of  them?  " 

"Be  silent!"  Hassan  commanded.  "Taken 
separately  they  are  good  people — none  better — brave 
and  the  slingstone  of  their  word,  but  put  together  in 
the  nation,  they  are  treacherous  as  loose  stones.  In- 
dividuals of  that  race  strove  bravely  with  us  against 

170 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  Muscovite,  while  their  nation  betrayed  them  and 
us.  It  was  commonly  known  in  those  days  that  this 
kind  have  neither  honor  nor  nobility  except  when  cut 
off.  A  strange  people.  Now  this  hakim  is  cut  off; 
he  stands  alone.  Let  be  then,  he  will  perform  his 
covenant." 

"  In  sh'  Allah !  "  the  band  murmured,  but  this 
stopper  on  expression  of  their  just  annoyance  only 
caused  it  to  ferment. 

In  the  temper  to  quarrel  with  their  own  shadows 
and  kill  whoever  brushed  against  them,  it  was  only  by 
the  courtesy  or  the  cowardice  of  other  wayfarers  that 
they  escaped  embroilment.  Even  as  it  was,  on  two 
occasions  their  conduct  called  for  the  interference  of 
the  street  watch. 

In  the  wide  open  space  before  the  tower,  where 
fellahin  from  Beyt-Laham  and  the  surrounding  vil- 
lages stand  to  sell  the  produce  of  their  fields,  they  one 
morning  encountered  Ismail,  the  doorkeeper  of  the 
Frank  physician,  going  marketing,  a  basket  on  his 
arm. 

Instantly  Nesib  the  Thief  went  mad,  or  so  it 
seemed  to  his  companions.  Like  a  fierce  dog,  he  flew 
snarling  at  the  throat  of  the  old  negro. 

"  Pig!     Whence  hast  thou  that  garment?  " 

"  It  is  the  gift  of  my  master."  The  tall  black 
171 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

grinned  as  with  a  sweep  of  his  long  gnarled  arm  he 
flung  off  his  assailant. 

At  that  the  fury  of  Neslb  passed  all  bounds.  He 
drew  the  dagger  from  his  waistband  and  sprang 
again,  this  time  foaming  at  the  mouth. 

Again  the  strength  of  the  negro  felled  him  easily. 
But,  seeing  the  old  man's  wrist  bled  from  a  scratch 
of  the  knife,  Hassan  Agha  intervened.  He  dealt  the 
Thief  a  cuff  under  the  ear  which  sent  him  staggering 
up  against  a  wall  near  by;  and  did  the  like  for  Ali, 
the  bosom  friend  of  the  Thief,  who  had  the  rashness 
to  cry  shame  on  the  blow. 

By  that  time  many  people  gathered  toward  them ; 
and,  spying  soldiers,  Shibli  took  to  his  heels. 

"  Cut  his  life!  Burn  his  house!  O  Allah!  O 
Lord!  "  raved  Neslb.  "  Is  it  not  enough  to  lose  my 
horse?  The  black  pig  wears  my  honor — O  defile- 
ment !  that  princely  garment.  May  his  father  perish ! 
An  heirloom  in  my  family !  Woe  on  us !  I  gave  it 
to  the  Frank  hakim,  and  the  black  pig  wears  it. 
Oo— oo !" 

The  watch  came  and  demanded  to  know  the 
meaning  of  the  disturbance.  Hassan  simply  shrugged 
his  shoulders  and  directed  their  gaze  upon  the  maniac 
scrabbling  at  the  wall.  He  said : 

"  It  is  a  poor  friend  of  mine  who  has  had  so  many 
172 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

and  great  misfortunes  in  a  short  time  that,  see,  his 
mind  is  broken." 

"  The  poor  one.  May  Allah  relieve  him !  "  said 
the  soldiers  piously,  and  went  their  way.  On  their 
departure,  Hassan  gripped  the  Thief  by  the  shoul- 
ders, and  shook  him  till  his  tongue  lolled  out. 

"  Allah  grant  thy  parents  a  shameful  death !  Be 
silent!  What  is  this  garment  to  lament — some  mo- 
hair— a  little  braid?  " 

"  It  is  an  ancient  garment — a  most  reverend  gar- 
ment— all  my  inheritance !  "  gasped  the  sufferer. 

At  that,  past  patience,  Hassan  seized  his  ears  as 
they  had  been  two  handles,  and,  heedless  of  the 
shrieks  of  Ali,  beat  his  head  against  the  wall,  saying: 

"  Speak  no  more  of  it !  It  was  given  from  thee, 
not  so?  So  the  hakim  cure  the  daughter  of  Shems- 
ud-din,  what  matter  who  wears  it?  It  has  served  its 
turn." 

And  Nesib,  dreading  further  punishment,  fell 
silent,  weeping  upon  Ali's  breast. 

Their  second  brawl  was  of  a  more  public  nature. 
It  chanced,  on  an  afternoon  when  the  Nazarenes  had 
a  great  ceremony  in  their  church  called  the  Resurrec- 
tion, that  Hassan  and  his  men,  attended  as  usual  by 
Shibli,  passed  by  the  mouth  of  the  bazaar  leading 
down  to  the  church,  at  an  hour  when  the  throng  of 

12 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

worshipers  poured  forth.  They  were  shouldering 
their  way  through  that  herd  of  infidels,  when  some 
men  made  resistance,  pushing  hard  against  them. 
Peering  about  him  angrily,  Hassan  saw  shawled  heads 
and  swarthy  faces  with  eyes  of  smoldering  fire. 

"  O  happy  day!  May  Allah  destroy  every  Be- 
dawi !  "  He  spat  in  the  face  of  the  nearest. 

In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  there  was  a  fray. 
Knives  flashed,  blood  was  drawn.  Piercing  screams 
of  Prankish  women  came  from  the  crowd  around. 
The  breath  of  each  combatant  was  hot  in  the  face  of 
his  antagonist,  at  such  close  quarters  was  the  strife. 
One  fell  and  was  trampled  under  foot;  another 
shrieked  and  threw  up  his  hands,  but  was  caught  by 
a  comrade. 

All  at  once  rang  out  a  voice  of  command.  The 
guard  returning  from  the  church  had  surrounded 
them  in  the  nick  of  time.  The  struggle  ceased  magi- 
cally. The  soldiers,  inured  to  such  work,  separated 
the  two  factions  neatly  without  partiality  or  insult. 

"  It  is  a  vengeance  for  blood,"  cried  Hassan. 
u  These  dogs  slew  my  two  sons.  They  have  paid  no 
indemnity.  My  cause  is  just!  " 

"  He  is  a  liar;  hear  him  not,  O  my  lord!  We 
know  not  him  nor  his  sons." 

"  It  is  a  blood  feud;  let  them  alone,  O  my  chil- 
174 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

dren,"  said  the  officer  in  command  of  the  detachment, 
a  man  advanced  in  years.  "  Drive  the  one  party  back 
toward  the  church,  the  other  on  toward  the  tower, 
that  they  be  fairly  sundered.  .  .  .  When  thou,  O 
old  wolf,  next  requirest  the  price  of  blood,  see  thou 
choose  some  spot  more  seemly  than  the  heart  of  the 
city.  Is  there  not  land  enough  open  in  all  the  world 
that  thou  must  needs  choose  this  place?  " 

"  Art  hurt,  my  son?  "  asked  Hassan  of  Shibli,  as 
they  were  driven  toward  the  tower. 

"  Aye,  and  that  sorely,"  replied  the  young  man, 
nursing  his  two  hands.  "  I  had  slain  him  who  smote 
me,  but  that  he  escaped  in  the  crowd." 

"  I  smote  thee,  O  valorous  youth,"  laughed  one 
at  his  side.  "  Thou  didst  clasp  me  so  tight  from 
behind  that  I  was  hampered,  so  I  pricked  thy  two 
hands." 

At  that  there  was  loud  laughter,  and  Shibli  hung 
his  head. 

"  That  soldier  spoke  sense,"  observed  Hassan 
later,  when,  freed  from  surveillance,  they  were  re- 
turning to  the  khan.  "  Outside  the  walls  is  best  for 
battle  as  for  everything  else.  Thy  horse  is  preserved 
to  thee,  O  Thief.  To-morrow,  or  the  day  after,  we 
retire  from  the  city.  It  is  good  at  least  to  know  that 
those  Bedu  are  not  favored  above  us.  They  have  not 

175 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

procured  rifles,  or  would  they  still  be  here  among  the 
jumpers  of  walls?  By  Allah's  leave,  we  may  chance 
on  their  camping  ground  and  make  an  end.  At  least, 
if  Allah  will,  we  can  glean  a  little,  out  of  sight  of  the 
garrison." 

"  We  shall  have  all  the  wealth  of  the  land,  I 
swear  it,  so  only  that  I  keep  my  horse,"  cried  the 
Thief  in  rapture. 

It  was  with  enthusiasm  that  all  to  whom  Hassan 
spoke  on  the  morrow  heard  of  his  decision  to  quit  the 
city.  His  open  abuse  of  a  government  which  could 
refuse  a  few  rifles  to  men  worn  out  in  its  service,  had 
alarmed  the  timorous  and  supple  townsmen.  He  had 
inveighed  against  Abd-ur-Rahman  Bey,  a  young  man 
of  the  first  influence,  in  terms  almost  treasonable,  call- 
ing him  selfish  and  impious,  a  dog  who  pushed  back 
the  gift  of  an  old  friend,  and  was  above  speaking  to 
his  own  father.  Sober  men  frown  on  such  talk,  and 
a  certain  rich  merchant,  overhearing  some  of  it,  had 
observed : 

"  These  men  are  possessed  with  blind  devils.  Is 
it  to  be  supposed  that  Abd-ur-Rahman  will  show  them 
kindness  when  they  defame  him  in  the  markets  ?  And 
can  he  now  let  them  take  the  rifles?  I  will  give  you 
my  neighbor's  hoard  privately,  as  between  ourselves; 
but  blab  the  matter  beforehand,  and  I  avert  my  face, 

176 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

I  draw  my  robe  away,  I  have  no  knowledge  of  you. 
As  for  what  the  old  braggart  says  about  Abd-ur- 
Rahman's  father,  it  is  a  lie.  Abd-ur-Rahman  is  an 
orphan,  both  of  father  and  mother.  I  have  the  as- 
surance of  it  from  his  own  mouth." 

That  merchant,  with  the  other  tavern  haunters, 
was  aware  how  often  men  who  hear  sedition  and  re- 
buke not  its  prophet,  are  themselves  made  guilty  of 
it  in  the  eye  of  Power.  And  Hassan,  in  the  midst 
of  his  adherents,  looked  ill  to  rebuke.  The  coffee 
sellers,  therefore,  joined  with  their  customers  in  ex- 
tolling the  wisdom  of  his  plan  to  depart.  They 
praised  his  intelligence,  and  that  of  his  honorable 
companions.  The  city  was  no  place  for  them.  It  was 
a  malicious  place,  a  backbiting  and  slanderous  place, 
the  home  of  all  injustice.  No  wonder  their  Excellen- 
cies preferred  the  open  land ;  and  so  on. 

Hassan,  the  dupe  of  these  plaudits,  was  returning 
in  great  satisfaction  from  his  morning  round,  when 
he  saw  from  a  distance  a  man  beckoning  to  him  be- 
side the  doorway  of  the  khan.  Drawing  near,  he 
recognized  the  Bimbashi  Muhammed.  "  Ma  sh' 
Allah!  "  he  exclaimed  in  his  soul;  for  he  had  thought 
never  again  to  behold  that  particular  rascal. 

"  Deign  to  step  apart  with  me,"  said  the  soldier, 
with  lowly  reverence;  and,  when  Hassan  had  com- 

177 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

plied,  he  touched  his  uniform  piteously,  calling  atten- 
tion to  a  change  in  it.  "  See,  I  have  been  degraded. 
I  have  suffered  much  for  thy  sake.  Thou  wilt  not 
give  up  the  undertaking,  surely — thou,  a  great  one — 
for  the  fee  is  like  owing  to  me  for  all  I  have  endured. 
I  come  to  tell  thee  that  vigilance  is  relaxed,  that  all  is 
now  favorable  to  our  business — but  to  learn  from  the 
lord  of  the  khan  that  your  honors  depart  in  the  morn- 
ing. Go  not  far  away,  O  my  dear !  Return  by  night 
to  the  city.  I  will  warn  the  guards  at  the  city  gate ; 
I  myself  will  admit  thee  to  the  tower.  I  cannot  bring 
you  the  things  because  of  a  sacred  oath  which  was 
wrung  from  me.  But  I  can  open  the  door  of  the  ar- 
mory. Fear  not,  O  my  master.  There  is  no  danger, 
Allah  witness.  At  the  fourth  hour  of  the  night.  And 
the  fee — we  agreed  upon  that.  Forget  not  the  fee,  O 
my  eyes,  for  I  have  suffered  much." 

Once  more  he  touched  his  mutilated  uniform  in 
the  manner  of  a  beggar  showing  sores.  Hassan 
pulled  his  white  mustache,  and  eyed  the  man  grimly 
askance. 

"  It  is  not  good  to  deceive  Hassan  Agha." 
The  poor  soldier  flung  up  his  hands.    "  Allah  wit- 
ness," he  cried,  in  tones  of  real  horror.    "  O  my  great 
lord,  trust  Muhammed.     I  am  a  poor  honest  man 
whose  one  aim  is  to  serve  thee  and  obtain  the  reward." 

178 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Agreed  then,"  said  Hassan,  well  content. 
"  To-morrow,  at  the  fourth  hour  of  the  night,  be 
ready.  With  my  peace,  go." 

Muhammed  blessed  him  and  went.  His  tone 
throughout,  though  cringing,  had  been  straightfor- 
ward, without  a  trace  of  that  conscious  subtlety  which 
had  disfigured  his  behavior  upon  former  occasions. 
It  was  the  manner  of  a  merchant  who,  seeing  his  cus- 
tomer in  act  to  depart,  through  fear  of  losing  him, 
speaks  truth  for  the  first  time. 


179 


CHAPTER   XV 

IT  was  close  upon  sunrise  when  Hassan  Agha  and 
his  men  threaded  the  burrows  of  the  city  to  the  north- 
ern gate.  Few  moved  abroad  beside  themselves. 
Dogs  slunk  drowsily  along  by  the  walls,  seeking  lairs 
for  the  day.  Once  past  the  gate  and  its  stretching 
shadow,  they  all  with  one  accord  clapped  spurs  to 
their  horses. 

Away  they  galloped,  shouting,  through  olive 
groves  where  the  sunrise  reddened  one  side  of  the 
knotty  trunks,  and  awoke  a  pearly  sheen  in  the  gray 
mistlike  foliage.  Past  old  rock  tombs,  past  caverns 
fledged  with  fern,  they  dashed  in  the  pink  of  morning. 
From  an  eminence,  the  city  walls  appeared  a  blue 
cloud  line  just  beneath  the  sun.  The  rays  smote  their 
shoulders  with  a  loving  hand.  They  were  free. 

Shibli  rode  with  them  by  indulgence  of  the  Sheykh 
Shems-ud-din,  before  whom  they  had  laid  their  plan 
overnight.  The  saint  had  heard  them  listlessly,  as 
from  a  distance.  He  had  approved  of  everything 
with  the  slight  impatience  of  one  in  haste  to  be  rid  of 
questions.  But  not  so  Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas.  Sure 

180 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

that  they  were  bent  on  some  iniquity,  the  fellah  had 
done  all  in  the  power  of  grimaces  and  private  signals 
to  arouse  misgiving  in  his  master,  all  in  vain;  till  at 
length,  with  a  shrug  for  an  obtuseness  which  he  knew 
for  the  God-sent  rind  of  sanctity,  he  accepted  the  in- 
evitable. Executing  a  circular  bow  to  comprise  all 
the  enemy,  he  had  besought  them  to  brighten  once 
again  the  village  of  his  wife's  sister's  husband's  uncle, 
who,  poor  good  man,  would  thus  be  rendered  the 
happiest  of  living  creatures.  When  Hassan  wel- 
comed the  suggestion,  Zeyd  had  praised  Allah  as  for 
a  favor  done  to  himself.  He  looked  to  harvest  from 
the  lips  of  his  distant  relative  such  clear  evidence  of 
their  wickedness  as  should  convince  even  a  saint's  in- 
credulity. 

But  Hassan  was  not  going  to  seek  that  village 
until  the  evening.  He  wished  to  celebrate  the  release 
from  entombing  walls  by  a  day's  ride  in  quest  of 
adventure. 

Letting  the  horses  resume  a  quiet  pace,  they  joked 
and  chatted  together,  while  the  land  led  them  onward 
by  waves.  At  length,  from  between  some  ancient 
olive  trees  which  watched  a  sea  of  corn,  they  beheld 
a  flat-roofed  village  with  three  upper  chambers  like 
towers  projecting  above  the  herd  of  dwellings. 

"  There,  in  sh'  Allah,  we  will  break  our  fast," 
181 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

said  Hassan,  to  the  joy  of  Shibli,  who,  from  excessive 
delight  in  the  ride,  was  very  hungry. 

At  the  foot  of  a  little  height  the  village  crowned, 
were  women  fetching  water  from  the  spring.  Their 
pitchers  filled,  they  stood  to  gossip,  with  arms  akimbo. 
On  beholding  a  crowd  of  riders,  they  huddled  together 
in  alarm.  Other  women,  at  work  in  the  field  hard  by, 
stood  up  to  stare  at  the  strangers.  A  man  with  a  pre- 
posterous turban  came  forth  from  the  village,  yawn- 
ing, with  arms  upraised.  He  had  begun  to  descend 
toward  the  spring,  when  he,  too,  caught  sight  of  the 
horsemen,  and  stood  still  beneath  a  young  fig  tree,  his 
hand  shading  his  eyes. 

"  We  be  soldiers,"  shouted  Hassan,  loud  enough 
to  be  heard  of  the  man  in  the  distance.  "  O  women, 
conduct  us  to  the  house  of  your  sheykh." 

At  that  the  women  raised  a  wail,  and  wrung  their 
hands.  The  man  by  the  fig  tree  ran  back  whence 
he  came. 

"  O  Allah,  have  mercy.  What  have  our  men 
worth  requiring?  O  my  lords,  there  is  nothing  left 
with  us.  All  our  beasts  are  dead  lately  of  a  murrain. 
A  blight  is  on  our  crops  these  many  years." 

"  Draw  near,  O  rising  moon,"  said  Hassan, 
ogling  the  youngest  and  most  lissome  of  the  group. 
"  Fear  not,  O  delight.  It  is  but  a  drink  from  thy 

182 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

pitcher.  O  mothers  of  mighty  men,  give  to  drink  to 
my  companions.  We  are  not  wild  beasts  to  devour 
you.  Why  so  afraid?  " 

A  moment  they  hung  in  a  flutter.  Then  the  girl, 
enticed  of  Hassan,  took  a  bold  step  forward,  gig- 
gling at  her  companions.  She  held  up  her  pitcher. 
Having  drunk  his  fill,  Hassan  hugged  her  in  his  arms. 
She  gave  but  a  little  scream  and  struggled  faintly,  gig- 
gling. Louder  screams  and  laughter  came  from  the 
elder  women,  caught  in  like  manner.  The  toilers  in 
the  field  applauded  the  pretty  game. 

"  By  Allah,  my  old  mouth  waters.  My  soul  is 
sick  for  desire  of  thee,"  said  Hassan,  with  the  pant  of 
love.  "  For  the  sake  of  all  you  women — how  beau- 
tiful !  how  seductive ! — we  will  spare  this  village.  Say 
I  not  well,  O  my  children?  We  will  ask  no  more  of 
the  sheykh  than  to  make  for  us  a  little  feast  to  con- 
firm friendship.  My  peace  on  you." 

At  that  the  girl  who  had  served  Hassan  set  off, 
running  with  rhythmic  hips,  the  pitcher  poised  upon 
her  head.  Before  the  horsemen  reached  the  house  of 
the  sheykh,  she  had  convoked  all  the  men  of  the  place 
to  do  them  honor.  Impressed  by  her  breathless, 
eager  tale,  those  villagers  were  ready  to  make  a  holi- 
day, to  roast  a  sheep,  and  gorge  thereon  till  night,  to 
spit  a  dozen  fowls,  to  boil  a  hill  of  rice.  But  Hassan 

183 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

magnanimously  bade  them  spare  their  pains.  He 
asked  only  bread  and  curds,  a  few  olives,  a  cup  of 
coffee,  for  himself  and  each  of  his  following.  The 
crowd  lost  speech  in  wonder  at  his  moderation.  His 
frugal  needs  were  at  once  supplied. 

When  he  and  all  his  company  were  satisfied,  the 
villagers  led  them  forth  with  praise  upon  their  way. 
At  the  foot  of  a  rocky  slope  they  said  farewell. 

"What  is  the  name  of  yonder  shrine?"  asked 
Hassan,  pointing  with  his  hand  to  a  mountain,  on 
the  summit  of  which,  up  against  the  sky,  appeared  the 
form  of  a  wely  or  saint's  tomb. 

"  His  name  is  Neby  Samwil,  may  it  please  your 
Excellency,"  the  reply  was  given  by  a  score  of  voices. 

"  Is  it  a  great  shrine?  " 

The  villagers  shrugged  shoulders,  and  smiled 
widely,  glancing  at  one  another.  It  was  as  his  Ex- 
cellency pleased.  Some  pilgrims  went  there. 

The  cavalcade  rode  on  by  rough  and  stony  ways, 
while  the  sun  on  their  backs  shone  hot  and  hotter. 
Wild  flowers  grew  in  beds  between  the  rocks.  Now 
and  then  a  bird  cried.  The  hues  of  earth  in  contrast 
with  the  deep  blue  sky  were  pale  and  dead,  as  sands 
beside  the  sea.  A  train  of  camels,  pursuing  some 
other  road,  appeared  and  disappeared,  mere  dots 
upon  the  sky  line. 

184 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Coming  in  sight  of  another  village,  hardly  sepa- 
rate from  its  surrounding  rocks,  Hassan  called  the 
Thief  to  his  side  and  gave  some  orders,  heard  of 
Shibli,  who  rode  near.  "  Take  one  other  with  thee," 
were  the  concluding  words. 

"  Let  me  be  that  one,"  pleaded  Shibli  eagerly. 

"  Thou,  the  scholar,  the  disciple  of  the  Sheykh 
Shems-ud-din.  Allah  forbid!  " 

"  Nay,  let  me.  I  would  show  you  all  that  I  am 
not  a  coward.  And  in  truth,  since  the  girl  Alia  is 
in  the  way  of  recovery,  I  care  not  what  becomes 
of  me." 

"  Go,  then,"  said  Hassan,  between  a  grin  and  a 
sneer.  "  And  see  that  thou  support  our  Thief  prop- 
erly, else  Ali,  his  friend,  will  surely  beat  thee." 

Shibli  dropped  behind  with  Nesib,  while  Hassan 
and  the  rest  of  the  party  rode  on  in  earnest  con- 
ference. 

At  entering  the  village,  Ali,  the  only  Arab  left  to 
them,  cried  aloud  by  Hassan's  orders,  so  that  all  who 
rested  from  the  heat  looked  forth  at  their  doors : 

"  O  good  people,  O  pious  Muslimum,  come  out 
and  see.  Lo !  here  be  pilgrims  of  distinction — holy 
men,  none  like  them — men  of  renown.  They  come 
from  Jebel  Caf,  that  mountain  reaching  into  heaven, 
which  is  the  boundary  of  the  whole  earth.  From 

185 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Jebel  Caf,  I  say,  to  visit  your  Neby  Samwil,  the  illus- 
trious, the  blessed.  It  is  an  honor  done  to  all  your 
land.  Come  forth  and  behold  that  which  no  poor 
man  ever  yet  was  privileged  to  see — princes  from 
Jebel  Caf,  which  is  under  heaven." 

And  when  all  the  inhabitants  stood  gaping  in  their 
doorways : 

"  Come  forth,"  he  cried,  "  beyond  the  houses. 
Let  all  see  and  hear  alike.  This  place  is  too  narrow." 

Then,  having  lured  them  out  into  the  open,  Ali 
there  addressed  them  at  great  length;  bidding  them 
be  good  ever  more,  and  sin  never  again,  for  that  they 
were  now  ennobled  above  all  their  fathers,  having 
beheld  the  kings  of  Jebel  Caf,  the  very  Gate  of 
Heaven,  who  come  once  in  a  thousand  years.  Their 
crops  would  increase  thenceforth;  all  provisions  in 
their  houses  would  abound  miraculously.  In  the  end, 
he  besought  Hassan  to  bless  them,  and  then  rode  off, 
leaving  them  perfectly  bewildered. 

Scarcely  were  they  out  of  sight  of  those  simple- 
tons, when  they  espied  Shibli  and  the  Thief  seated 
under  a  rock  beside  the  path,  holding  their  steeds  by 
the  headropes. 

"  It  was  the  work  of  a  minute,"  cried  Shibli,  much 
excited.  "  We  have  many  useful  things,  but  alas !  no 
money.  Nesib  has  ten  fowls  which  he  caught  and 

186 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

bagged  before  I  could  have  laid  hand  on  one  of  them. 
Also,  he  changed  some  things  from  house  to  house,  so 
that  those  fellahin  may  suspect  one  another  of  the 
theft.  He  is  a  devil,  this  Thief.  I  had  been  naught 
without  him." 

Hassan  looked  hard  at  the  speaker.  "  The  praise 
to  Allah,"  he  said,  "  we  have  now  two  thieves  instead 
of  one." 

The  boy's  eyes  flashed  with  anger,  and  his  lips 
parted  to  make  answer.  The  next  minute  his  eyes 
swam  in  tears,  and  he  hung  his  head,  silenced.  For 
long  he  spoke  no  word  to  anyone,  but  rode  apart  in 
dudgeon  or  despondency. 

They  came  to  a  wady  trending  eastward  athwart 
their  road.  A  fairly  defined  goat  path  ran  along  its 
hither  bank.  Saying  they  had  gone  far  enough  in  a 
straight  line  from  the  city,  Hassan  led  the  way  upon 
that  narrow  track,  the  rest  following  him  in  single  file. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  in  the  new  direction 
ere  their  leader  reined  up.  The  track  was  gone.  But 
the  sharp  eyes  of  Nesib  made  out  a  village  in  the  dis- 
tance where  they  could  be  sure  of  learning  the  way. 
Hassan  resigned  the  post  of  leader  to  the  Thief,  him- 
self riding  second  in  the  file.  He  could  thus  converse 
with  Nesib  without  fear  of  being  overheard. 

''  We  have  no  money,"  he  said  savagely.    "  Look 
187 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

to  it  that  we  obtain  some  before  evening.  How  can 
we  enter  the  Tower,  how  fee  the  soldiers,  without 
money?  I  myself  will  help  thee,  if  thou  fearest  a 
bold  stroke." 

"  No  money."  Nesib's  shoulders  went  up  to  his 
ears  on  the  shrug  of  despair.  "  I  will  do  what  is  pos- 
sible, O  my  dear  lord !  But  money  is  not  like  fowls, 
nor  yet  like  flowers  by  the  wayside.  Allah  witness,  I 
can  neither  catch  nor  pluck  it.  I  know  not  before- 
hand where  it  lies.  It  must  come  to  my  hand,  or  I 
cannot  take  it.  Allah  put  it  near  me,  since  our  need  is 
urgent." 

At  the  entering  in  of  the  village  Nesib  had  spied 
from  afar,  grew  a  fine  tree,  beneath  which,  at  the  hour 
of  their  approach,  lay  two  sturdy  youths  asleep. 
These  being  awakened,  one  of  them  gladly  undertook 
to  guide  their  honors  to  a  place  whence  the  road  ran 
clear  to  El  Cuds.  For  half  an  hour  he  led  them  in 
and  out  among  the  stony  hills  till,  near  a  village  su- 
perior in  size  and  structure  to  any  they  had  yet  seen, 
he  set  them  on  a  wide  track  and  pointed  out  their  di- 
rection. Receiving  some  small  coins  for  his  services, 
he  cried  on  Allah  to  increase  their  wealth. 

"  May  Allah  heed  him,"  muttered  Hassan,  "  for 
he  has  our  last  dinar." 

The  sun  was  still  high  when  they  learnt  from 


THE    HOUSE    OE    ISLAM 

some  other  wayfarers  that  they  were  again  near  to 
the  city  and  within  a  short  hour  of  the  village  of 
Zeyd's  relation.  Hassan  bade  Shibli  and  the  rest  go 
on  thither,  while  he  and  Nesib  attended  to  some  busi- 
ness they  had  to  transact  in  common.  With  laughter 
and  knowing  looks,  the  troop  rode  off. 

Hassan  and  the  Thief  urged  their  horses  up  a 
small,  steep  hill,  from  the  top  of  which  they  beheld 
the  city,  and  much  country  on  all  hands.  Beneath 
them  in  the  dale  they  had,  just  left  were  many  olive 
trees  a-shimmer  in  the  sun,  which  cast  a  filigree  of 
shade  upon  the  field  and  on  the  bridle  path  which 
wound  among  them.  Having  secured  their  horses  out 
of  sight,  they  sat  to  watch  that  path. 

At  last,  when  from  long  watching  he  had  dropped 
to  sleep,  old  Hassan  was  aroused  by  an  exclamation 
from  the  Thief  at  his  side.  He  presently  became 
aware  of  figures  moving  upon  the  path,  drawing  near 
out  of  the  distance. 

He  perceived  a  fat  man  bestriding  a  tall  black 
jackass,  and  beside  him  a  servant,  walking,  holding  a 
sunshade  over  the  fat  one's  head.  The  donkey  bore 
full  saddlebags,  to  judge  from  the  angle  of  projec- 
tion of  his  rider's  legs.  And  the  fat  man  kept  clutch- 
ing the  bosom  of  his  robe,  as  if  that,  too,  were  not 
empty. 

13  189 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Come,  O  my  lord.  Let  us  descend,"  hissed 
Nesib.  "  Yon  old  man  has  our  money.  Watch  his 
hands;  observe  his  glance  of  fear  to  every  side. 
Y'Allah!" 

They  stole  rapidly  down  the  hill,  making  use  of 
every  scrap  of  cover.  Long  before  the  fat  man  and 
his  servant  reached  the  place  of  their  descent,  two 
simple  men,  an  old  and  a  young,  sat  by  the  roadside, 
beneath  a  wall  that  fenced  the  olive  yards,  holding 
one  another's  hand,  enjoying  innocent  converse  in  that 
shady  spot.  The  younger  of  the  twain  crooned  a  love 
song  with  closed  eyes. 

All  at  once,  as  the  black  donkey  came  ambling  by, 
the  pair  sprang  up  suddenly,  while  the  elder  pre- 
sented a  large  and  very  curious  pistol  at  the  rider's 
head. 

Upon  that,  seeing  the  miscreants  were  two,  him- 
self but  one,  the  servant  turned  and  fled  with  the  open 
sunshade.  A  minute  later,  when  the  fat  man  lay  on 
the  ground,  puffing  and  cursing  beneath  the  clever 
hands  of  Nesib,  Hassan  saw  that  servant  afar  off, 
frantically  endeavoring  to  climb  a  tree,  while  the 
parasol,  still  open,  adorned  the  ground  close  by,  seem- 
ing some  strange  white  flower. 

At  that  instant  Nesib  swore  roundly.  The  fat 
man  had  bitten  deep  into  the  wrist  of  his  despoiler. 

190 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Pig  of  a  citizen!  "  yelled  the  Thief.  "  I  will 
tear  thy  beard  out.  I  will  stab  thy  filthy  eyes." 

He  kicked  his  victim,  and  would  have  leapt 
upon  the  hill  of  fatness  had  not  Hassan  Agha  re- 
strained him. 

"  Nevertheless,  he  shall  be  punished,  and  that  at 
once,"  said  the  Circassian.  "  We  asked  but  his 
wealth;  Allah  witness,  we  bore  no  grudge  to  this  man 
more  than  to  any  other.  But  now,  since  he  curses  me 
and  has  bitten  my  companion,  the  case  is  altered." 

So  saying,  he  removed  the  saddlebags  from  the 
donkey's  back,  then,  letting  go  the  bridle,  drove  his 
dagger  into  its  flank.  The  black  jackass  screamed, 
plunged,  and  careered  away. 

Nesib,  meanwhile,  was  employed  in  tearing  the 
raiment  off  the  fallen  fat  one,  now  quite  paralyzed 
with  rage.  The  despoiled  gasped  and  gurgled  con- 
vulsively. 

"  O  Allah,  help !  Shall  men  rob  and  outrage  the 
Cadi  of  El  Cuds,  within  call  of  the  city,  and  live? 
May  Allah  burn  the  abode  of  your  wickedness.  By 
Allah,  I  shall  be  revenged.  The  day  will  come  when 
I  shall  send  you  forth  to  death.  All  robbers  return 
to  me.  I  am  the  Cadi." 

"  Cadi  or  pig,  thou  hadst  no  right  to  bite  my 
hand,"  replied  Nesib  severely. 

191 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Having  stripped  him  to  his  silken  shirt  and  his 
voluminous  drawers  of  white  calico,  Nesib,  for  a  fur- 
ther insult,  hoodwinked  him  with  his  own  turban,  and 
bound  together  his  wrists  and  ankles  with  strips  cut 
from  the  clothing  taken  from  him.  Then  after  Has- 
san he  climbed  back  over  the  wall. 

From  a  discreet  place  they  watched  what  should 
befall.  They  saw  the  servant  clamber  down  from  out 
his  tree  of  refuge  and,  hesitating,  with  fearful  glances, 
approach  his  master.  They  saw  him  fumble  with  the 
bonds.  They  heard  the  fat  man's  scream  of  rage, 
when  at  length  he  could  rise;  and  observed  him  spit 
upon  that  servant,  striking  his  face  repeatedly,  so  that 
the  coward  fell  on  his  knees  and  howled  for  mercy. 
They  waited  to  see  no  more,  but,  full  of  quiet  mirth, 
crept  on  their  way. 


192 


CHAPTER    XVI 

WHEN  Hassan  Agha  and  the  Thief  reached  the 
abode  of  Zeyd's  wife's  relation,  the  sun  had  just  sunk 
beneath  the  western  hill.  The  cooling  waters  of  the 
twilight  overflowed  the  village  and  all  the  wady. 
They  found  their  comrades  at  the  sheykh's  house  in- 
stated in  the  best  room,  the  floor  of  which  was  laid 
for  a  feast.  The  entire  population  crowded  round  the 
open  door,  anxious  to  observe  the  manners  of  guests 
so  honorable. 

"  Allah  witness,  we  will  be  no  burden  on  you," 
said  Hassan  to  their  entertainer,  after  fervent  greet- 
ings. "  We  have  money  and,  moreover,  we  shall 
count  it  an  honor  to  espouse  your  quarrels.  Your 
friends,  our  friends ;  your  foes,  our  foes ;  your  people 
are  from  this  hour  the  sworn  brothers  of  my  people." 

"  May  Allah  reward  your  Excellencies !  Behold, 
we  are  dirt.  The  honor  is  too  great !  "  The  old 
fellah  wagged  his  turbaned  head  most  humbly. 

"  I  with  four  of  my  comrades  repair  to  the  city 
this  night;  but  after  a  little  while  we  shall  return.  In 
the  meanwhile,  here  is  a  trifle.  Honor  me  by  aceept- 

193 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ing.      It   is   only   right,   since   we   are   so    great   a 
company." 

The  sheykh  of  the  village  looked  with  awful  rev- 
erence upon  a  piece  of  shining  gold.  It  seemed  he 
dared  not  take  it.  But  when  Hassan  thrust  it  into  his 
palm,  his  fist  clinched  on  it  instantly.  He  faltered 
praise  to  God,  then  wept  a  little. 

About  the  third  hour  of  night,  Hassan  set  out  once 
more,  taking  with  him  Shibli  and  four  of  his  own 
men,  the  Thief  among  them.  Once  past  the  city  gate, 
it  was  his  intention  to  send  Shibli  straight  to  the  khan. 
He  had  no  wish  to  earn  the  rebuke  of  Shems-ud-din 
by  involving  the  youth  in  any  serious  mischief.  But 
as  they  rode  along,  Shibli  pleaded  so  earnestly  to  be 
allowed  this  opportunity  of  conquering  his  native  cow- 
ardice, that  Hassan,  foreseeing  no  danger,  had  not 
the  heart  to  deny  him.  After  all,  they  were  bound  on 
no  adventure,  but  a  simple  business  of  fetching  and 
carrying,  which  could  hurt  no  one. 

In  an  olive  grove  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
walls,  they  dismounted  and  made  fast  the  steeds,  leav- 
ing one  of  their  number  in  charge  of  them.  They  had 
not  taken  many  steps  from  that  place,  the  ground 
being  most  uneven,  when,  with  a  yell,  a  man  suddenly 
disappeared  below  the  surface  of  the  earth.  Eying 
one  another  in  terror,  they  missed  the  Thief. 

194 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

A  groan  came  from  near  at  hand,  ushering  words 
of  anguish. 

"Woe  on  me!  Am  I  not  most  wretched?  Do 
not  all  things  conspire  against  me?  A  black  hog 
wears  my  robe  of  honor;  the  lot  falls  on  me  to  lose 
my  horse ;  a  fat  man  bites  my  wrist  in  two ;  and  now 
the  earth  has  opened  his  mouth  and  devoured  me. 
Allah,  mercy !  Woe !  Woe  on  us !  " 

The  Thief  had  stepped  into  a  cistern  long  disused. 
Leaning  on  their  bellies  round  the  brink,  they  man- 
aged to  grip  hold  of  him,  and  at  length,  heaving  to- 
gether, brought  him  up  to  the  surface.  He  sank  upon 
the  earth  with  a  cry  of  pain.  His  legs  were  broken, 
he  asserted  again  and  again.  Useless  for  the  expedi- 
tion, he  was  ordered  to  crawl  back  and  keep  watch 
over  the  horses,  while  the  man  before  charged  with 
that  duty  took  on  active  service. 

It  was  dark  on  all  the  face  of  the  land.  The  city 
wall  was  but  a  greater  darkness  as  they  followed  it 
on  to  the  gate.  Here  they  passed  unchallenged.  The 
men  in  the  guardhouse  peeped  out,  laughing,  and 
wished  them  a  happy  night. 

The  bulk  of  the  ancient  fortress  rose  undefined 
against  the  sky,  which  in  that  quarter  showed  no  stars. 
Clouds  seemed  to  be  rising,  it  might  be  for  a  thunder- 
storm, the  year's  last  rain,,  On  the  narrow  bridge 

195 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

which  crossed  the  trench  to  the  portal,  Hassan 
whispered: 

"O  Muhammed!" 

"  Ready,  O  my  lord,"  came  the  answer  aloud. 

"Is  all  well?" 

"  Be  sure  it  is.  No  need  to  whisper.  Only 
friends  hear  us." 

"  Then  open  and  show  us  the  place." 

"  Gently,  gently,  O  Excellency  I  I  would  first 
hold  thy  gift  in  my  hand,  for  an  earnest  of  good  faith. 
Be  not  angry  with  Muhammed.  Bethink  thee,  I 
know  thee  but  a  little.  And  I  have  grave  need  of  the 
money.  To  thee  it  is  nothing;  to  me  much.  Deign 
to  indulge  thy  servant,  O  my  soul!  " 

"  Good.  Then  I  give  thee  the  half.  The  other 
half  shall  be  thine  when  we  come  out  with  the  things." 

"  At  thy  pleasure,  O  lord  of  bounty!  " 

The  gate  was  then  opened,  and  Hassan  made 
his  gift  to  the  sentry.  Muhammed  peered  at  the 
money  and  turned  it  over  slowly,  seeming  dissatisfied. 
Weighing  it  in  his  hand,  he  remonstrated: 

"  O  my  eyes,  this  is  very  little.  For  me  alone,  it 
might  suffice.  But  there  are  many  besides  me  your 
helpers  in  this  business.  Think  not  I  could  act  as  I 
do,  without  the  connivance  of  one  or  two  of  my 
superiors.  Then  .  .  .  the  guard  at  the  gate.  .  .  ." 

196 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  See  here,  take  this  and  be  content."  Hassan 
doubled  the  sum  given. 

"  It  will  serve,  perhaps,"  said  Muhammed,  with 
a  shrug.  "  Come,  follow  me."  But  he  continued  to 
grumble  in  an  undertone. 

Though  the  gate  was  left  ostentatiously  open 
behind  them,  Shibli  felt  imprisoned.  Too  late, 
he  repented  of  his  rashness  in  aspiring  to  vie 
with  brave  men.  As  they  followed  the  soldier 
across  the  yard,  he  kept  close  to  Hassan  Agha  for 
protection. 

Their  guide  unlocked  a  heavy  door.  He  struck 
a  match  and,  shielding  the  flame  with  his  hand, 
showed  them  steps  leading  down  to  a  vault. 

"  Deign  to  enter.  Ennoble  these  Frankish 
matches." 

"  May  thy  house  be  destroyed!  We  need  more 
light  than  those  provide,"  objected  Hassan  testily. 

"  Cut  thy  life!  "  retorted  Muhammed  in  anger. 
"  Didst  think  I  would  carry  a  lantern  hither  through 
the  common  yard,  to  show  any  man  our  business  who 
may  happen  to  be  awake  and  looking  out?  By  Allah, 
you  expect  much,  and  give  mighty  little !  " 

"  Aha,  is  it  the  smallness  of  the  gift,  my  brother? 
Thou  shalt  have  more,  much  more,  when  we  come    ; 
forth  with  the  rifles." 

197 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Mollified  by  this  assurance,  Muhammed  said 
more  civilly : 

"  On  the  right,  a  few  paces  from  the  foot  of  the 
stair,  you  will  find  a  lantern  hanging  by  the  wall.  Be 
careful  to  strike  no  match  in  the  armory  itself,  for 
there  is  much  gunpowder." 

"  Shibli,  stay  without  and  watch,"  ordered 
Hassan. 

"  No,  no !  Let  me  enter.  For  the  love  of  Allah, 
let  me  enter  with  you,"  cried  the  youth,  panic- 
stricken  at  the  prospect  of  being  left  alone. 

"  No,  it  were  a  sin  for  thee." 

"  Enter  none  the  less,"  whispered  Muhammed. 
"  It  is  a  dungeon  worth  seeing.  The  walls,  the  roofs, 
the  pillars,  are  of  the  rarest  workmanship.  I  will 
keep  watch  instead  of  thee." 

Shibli  required  no  urging  to  fulfill  his  one  desire. 
He  slipped  in  after  the  Circassians,  and  the  soldier,  as 
if  for  a  precaution,  closed  the  door  behind  him. 

He  felt  his  way  down  eight  stone  steps  till  he 
found  hard-trodden  earth  beneath  his  feet. 

Presently,  amid  the  darkness  ahead  of  him,  there 
broke  a  storm  of  curses.  A  match  was  struck,  form- 
ing a  cocoon  of  light  in  the  distance.  Hassan  cried  in 
a  terrible  voice : 

"  Here  is  no  lantern — no  armory.  And  the  door 
198 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

is  shut  upon  us.  We  are  trapped,  entombed.  May 
Allah  slay  me  where  I  stand  if  I  slay  not  ten  men  for 
this  trick  upon  us." 

Shibli  crouched  at  the  foot  of  the  steps,  annihi- 
lated, a  drumming  in  his  ears.  All  at  once  the  door 
above  opened,  and  shrouded  figures  entered  from  the 
lesser  darkness.  It  shut  again  ere  Hassan  and  the  rest 
could  come  at  it. 

Shibli  trembled  as  those  forms  brushed  by  him. 
The  smell  of  them  was  not  the  smell  of  men,  but  of 
goats  or  camels,  he  knew  not  which.  A  guttural  oath 
from  one  of  them  and  the  words,  "  I  touch  a  man," 
uttered  in  a  tone  of  alarm,  failed  to  humanize  them. 
But  the  stroke  of  a  match  and  a  gladsome  shout  from 
Hassan— "The  BedO!  Thanks  to  Allah!"— re- 
lieved him  of  the  shudder  of  the  unknown,  while  mul- 
tiplying his  fears  a  hundredfold.  For  that  shout  was 
prelude  to  a  frightful  conflict  of  men  fighting  tooth 
and  nail  in  the  dark,  panting  hard  in  the  death 
grapple,  striking  what  they  could  not  see. 

Shibli  heard  groans,  gasps,  short  screams  of  rage, 
and  the  struggling  fall  of  heavy  bodies.  His  heart 
beat  in  his  brain.  He  shrank  back  up  the  steps  to  the 
very  door. 

Just  then  the  door  opened,  and,  like  a  sword  flash, 
out  leapt  the  maddened  youth.  He  broke  through 

199 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

two  ranks  of  soldiers,  oversetting  some  of  them.  He 
was  endued  with  the  strength  of  ten  men  by  the  mor- 
tal fright  possessing  him.  Blinded  by  the  shine  of 
many  lanterns,  he  missed  the  gate  at  first  and  struck 
the  wall  beside  it.  Rebounding  and  quickly  collecting 
himself,  he  dashed  for  the  startled  sentry,  who,  con- 
cluding he  had  to  deal  with  a  supernatural  agent, 
wisely  dodged  the  encounter. 

"  One  has  escaped,  O  my  lord,"  reported  the 
soldier  Muhammed  to  his  captain.  "  A  youth,  but  a 
youth  of  the  devils.  As  well  try  to  catch  a  bullet." 

'  What    matter !  .  .  .  Have    you    stopped    the 
fight  in  there?    Drive  them  all  forth." 

Hassan  Agha  and  his  three  comrades,  with  all 
who  remained  of  their  antagonists,  emerged,  torn  and 
bleeding,  from  the  cellar.  They  blinked  in  the  glare 
of  the  lanterns.  To  their  dazed  apprehension  it 
seemed  the  whole  city  was  arrayed  against  them.  By 
degrees  their  senses  cleared  somewhat.  Having 
dashed  the  blood  from  his  eyes,  Hassan  descried  Abd- 
ur-Rahman. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  Thou  here,  O  child  of  my  soul  ? 
Is  it  a  trick  of  thine?  By  my  gun,  thou  hast  fooled 
us  perfectly.  It  was  a  stratagem  worthy  of  thy 
father's  brother,  worthy  of  Milhem  Basha,  the  very 
parent  of  guile." 

200 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

In  the  same  playful  tone  Abd-ur-Rahman  an- 
swered : 

"  It  seemed  desirable  to  read  thee  a  little  lesson,  O 
beloved.  Thy  endeavor  has  been  to  defame  me ;  thou 
madest  light  of  my  commands.  To-night  thou  hast 
thy  wages." 

"  But  as  for  thee,  I  will  pay  thee  soon  or  late,  thou 
lying  dog."  Hassan  turned  fiercely  upon  the  soldier 
Muhammed. 

That  deceiver  only  laughed.  "  I  scoff  at  thee,  old 
dotard.  Thou  art  cross,  it  is  natural.  What  is  that 
to  me?  I  am  once  more  Bimbashi,  which  is  all  I  care 
about.  If  thou  didst  think  to  outwit  our  young  lord 
here — thou  with  but  two  old  eyes  and  the  mind  of  a 
bull — well,  Allah  bless  thee,  that  is  all." 

"  What  care  I?  "  said  Hassan,  assuming  a  jaunty 
air.  "  I  have  at  least  done  something  to  pay  off  a 
debt  of  long  standing.  We  have  slain  a  few  of  these 
dwellers  in  the  House  of  Hair,  who  slew  my  two  sons. 
To  Allah  praise  therefore." 

"  Now  Allah  witness.  We  knew  thee  not,  nor 
had  ground  of  quarrel  with  thee,"  cried  a  Bedawi, 
who  stood  by,  very  sadly.  "  But  now  you  have  slain 
my  father  and  my  brother,  their  blood  cries  for  your 
blood.  It  may  prove  a  long  story,  but  the  end  is 
already  written." 

201 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

A  snarl  of  thunder  in  the  distance  gave  a  sinister 
voice  to  the  darkness  which  encompassed  the  light- 
ed crowd.  Hassan  Agha  turned  again  to  Abd-ur- 
Rahman. 

"  What  would  a  certain  old  man  think  of  this 
treatment  of  one  who  loved  thee?"  he  asked  with 
deep  meaning,  almost  with  authority.  "  What  would 
the  saintly " 

"  Enough  said!  "  cried  Abd-ur-Rahman ;  and  by 
the  haste  of  his  ejaculation  Hassan  knew  himself 
secure  from  public  dishonor.  "  I  intend  not  to  dis- 
grace so  old  a  friend.  Pay  ten  pounds  Turk  for  dis- 
tribution among  the  soldiers  under  my  command,  or 
in  default  of  that  sum — which  I  think  you  could 
hardly  make  up  among  you — give  me  a  mare  from 
your  cavalry,  and  it  is  finished  between  us." 

'  The  money  is  with  me,"  said  Hassan,  with  a 
chastened  gleam  of  satisfaction;  for  he  knew  that 
Abd-ur-Rahman  desired  the  mare.  A  gleeful  mur- 
mur spread  among  the  soldiery. 

"  With  these  sons  of  wandering  I  will  be  lenient 
in  like  manner.  Ten  pounds  Turk,  or  one  of  their 
thoroughbred  mares;  that  is  the  price  of  escape.  But 
first,  in  their  case,  it  is  necessary  that  I  see  some 
certificate  of  their  discharge  from  the  military 
service." 

202 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  A'al !  He  is  wise.  May  Allah  preserve  Abd- 
ur-Rahman,  coming  glory  of  the  realm." 

Hassan  stayed  to  hear  no  more.  He  paid  his  fine 
with  the  money  taken  from  the  Cadi,  and  slunk  away 
out  of  the  sphere  of  the  lantern  light.  Hearing  laugh- 
ter, he  ground  his  teeth  and  vowed  vengeance  sense- 
lessly. The  watch  at  the  gate  of  the  city  turned  out 
to  mock  him  and  his  companions,  inquiring  whence 
those  blood  stains,  where  the  rifles,  and  so  forth. 

Flashes  of  lightning  illumined  the  country  fitfully. 
The  stars  were  covered.  Thunder  rolled,  now  near, 
now  distant.  In  the  olive  grove  where  they  had  left 
their  steeds,  it  began  to  rain,  big  drops,  which  shook 
the  leaves.  The  whinny  and  stamp  of  the  horses 
guiding  them,  they  found  the  place. 

The  Thief  lay  on  his  back,  groaning,  just  as  they 
had  left  him.  His  legs  were  broken,  he  moaned.  He 
told  how,  as  he  lay  looking  up  at  the  sky,  he  had  seen 
a  sword  flash  forth  from  heaven  over  the  Holy  City, 
and  heard  a  great  voice  cry : 

"  Die,  all  of  you  I" 

He  supposed  that  Allah  would  destroy  those 
wicked  townsfolk,  and  Hassan  thought  it  very  likely. 


203 


CHAPTER    XVII 

"  GREAT  has  been  my  sin.  I  will  hide  none  of  it 
from  thee.  The  face  of  the  girl  struck  terror  in  me 
when  I  beheld  it  that  time  beneath  the  magic  tree. 
My  soul  abhorred  her.  I  prayed — O  my  more  than 
father,  curse  me  not !  I  prayed  that  thy  child  might 
die.  And  when  thy  worthier  prayers  prevailed,  when 
she  came  safe  to  the  Frank  physician,  I  cared  not 
what  thing  I  became.  I  gave  up  my  soul  to  wicked- 
ness; I  exchanged  thy  wise  company  for  that  of  the 
noisy  ones;  I  entered  into  every  device  of  Hassan 
Agha  and  his  companions ;  I  surpassed  them  all  in  vio- 
lence ;  I  robbed,  I  fought,  I  slew.  Last  night  I  slew 
Allah  knows  how  many  men.  I  alone  was  granted 
strength  to  escape  that  I  might  ask  thy  forgive- 
ness. All  the  rest,  the  fierce,  the  mighty  ones,  are 
dead." 

Shibli,  who  had  stood  beating  his  breast  before 
Shems-ud-din,  here  fell  down  upon  the  ground  and 
wept  convulsively. 

With  the  sun  he  had  come  to  the  Haram,  to  the 
cell  where,  from  distress  of  mind,  the  sheykh  had 

204 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

chosen  to  pass  that  night  of  storm.  Shems-ud-din 
knew  not  what  to  make  of  his  mad  appearance  and 
wild  words.  The  bondman  of  far  other  griefs,  he 
looked  at  Zeyd,  then  at  surrounding  objects — the  fair 
Dome  set  as  a  rock  in  mid-stream  of  the  sunrise,  some 
dark  forms  crowned  with  white  turbans  stalking 
gravely  in  its  shadow — but  could  only  shake  his  head 
and  smile  wearily.  He  saw  no  sense  anywhere.  The 
soft,  husky  coo  of  pigeons,  the  golden  calm,  discred- 
ited that  tale  of  sin  and  horror. 

"  May  Allah  take  my  life  also,"  moaned  Shibli, 
prostrate  on  the  time-worn  pavement.  "  I  am  un- 
worthy to  live  longer  in  thy  sight.  As  I  lay  all  night 
in  the  door  of  the  khan,  supposing  thee  to  be  within, 
the  wrath  of  Allah  thundered  against  me.  I  cannot 
survive  this  hour." 

The  sheykh  glanced  at  Zeyd  with  raised  eyebrows, 
as  who  should  say,  What  make  you  of  this  riddle? 
The  fellah  replied: 

"  He  is  distraught.  Be  sure  it  is  some  bad  joke 
of  the  sons  of  Eblis.  By  some  contrivance  they  have 
driven  him  mad  with  fear.  May  Allah  affright  the 
whole  race  of  them,  and  that  suddenly." 

"  Alas,  wish  no  evil  upon  them,  for  they  are  dead. 
All  of  them  slain  in  the  darkness  under  ground.  I 
alone  broke  away." 

14  205 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Shems-ud-dm  gazed  with  compassion  upon  the 
sobbing  liar.  His  mind,  purged  by  grief,  saw  round 
the  story  and  accurately  appraised  it. 

"  Do  a  kindness,  O  Zeyd,"  he  said  at  length. 
"  Go  to  the  Chief  of  the  Learned.  At  this  hour  thou 
wilt  find  him  in  the  mosque  El  Aksa.  Repeat  to  him 
the  tale,  and  beseech  him  to  ascertain  the  truth  for  us. 
He  has  influence  with  the  rulers  of  the  city,  and  can 
come  at  the  rights  of  it." 

Zeyd  sped  on  the  errand.  Shibli  lay  crushed 
before  the  sheykh,  groaning  and  weeping,  praying  for 
death  and  forgiveness. 

'  What  can  I  do  to  atone?  O  lord,  I  will  marry 
thy  daughter  when  the  Frank  has  healed  her.  See, 
my  soul  is  between  thy  two  feet." 

In  accents  of  mild  wonder  the  sheykh  replied: 

"  What  is  this  thou  sayest  of  my  daughter? 
Allah  forbid  that  I  should  victimize  thee.  Never, 
unless  by  the  especial  grace  of  Allah,  will  she  live 
to  be  given  in  marriage.  Why  hast  thou  hid  thy 
thought  from  me?  I  had  not  blamed  nor  in  any  wise 
constrained  thee.  The  affections  of  a  young  man  are 
winds  blowing  hot  or  cold  on  him ;  he  discerns  neither 
their  goal  nor  their  origin;  nor  can  in  aught  control 
them.  He  can  but  entreat  Allah  to  order  them  for 
his  soul's  weal.  Is  it  for  this  thou  hast  shunned  me 

206 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

these  many  days?    Be  comforted.    I  forgive  thee,  O 
my  son." 

The  convulsion  of  Shibli's  frame  abated  gradually 
till  he  lay  in  peace,  broken  only  at  lengthening  inter- 
vals by  a  kind  of  catch  in  the  breath,  like  a  hiccough. 
The  coo  of  the  mosque  pigeons  again  predominated. 

Zeyd  soon  returned,  accompanied  by  a  tall  black- 
bearded  man  of  somber  habit,  with  eyes  of  coal  set 
deep  in  a  sallow  visage. 

'  The  revered  Mahmud  in  this  hour  vouchsafes 
instruction  to  his  disciples.  He  cannot  himself  come 
to  thee.  But  with  his  peace,  and  in  hope  of  thy  for- 
giveness, he  sends  an  excellent  sheykh  who  can  certify 
thee  concerning  the  whole  matter,  being  already  ap- 
prised of  it  from  the  mouth  of  his  brother,  a  high 
officer  of  the  garrison." 

Zeyd  delivered  the  message  with  unction.  The 
words  of  the  Chief  of  the  Learned  were  as  sweet- 
meats in  his  mouth. 

With  a  formal  salutation  the  reverend  sheykh, 
thus  presented,  sat  down  crosslegged  before  the  cell, 
and  spoke  as  follows : 

"  Know,  O  my  uncle,  that  there  exists  among  the 
garrison  of  this  city  a  youth  of  good  lineage  and  high 
influence,  his  name  Abd-ur-Rahman  Bey.  The  same, 
coming  lately  in  charge  of  the  armory,  forbade  those 

207 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

thefts  of  rifles  and  ammunition,  by  connivance  of  the 
soldiery,  which  are  common  in  provincial  garrisons. 
But  his  subordinates,  accustomed  to  view  official  pro- 
hibitions but  as  pretty  cloaks,  proceeded,  at  the  time 
of  the  great  feast  of  the  Nazarenes,  when  all  kinds  of 
people  flock  to  our  city,  to  negotiate  as  usual  for  the 
sale  of  rifles.  Abd-ur-Rahman  has  an  eagle's  eye- 
sight. He  discovered  their  disobedience,  and  pun- 
ished it  severely,  degrading  some  of  the  culprits,  im- 
prisoning others.  Then,  hearing  how  those  who  had 
hoped  to  obtain  arms,  proclaimed  in  the  taverns  their 
intention  still  to  get  them  in  his  despite,  he  set  a  trap 
for  the  boasters.  He  sent  out  those  soldiers  whom  he 
had  before  punished,  to  entice  them  to  the  Tower, 
securing  fidelity  in  his  agents  by  the  promise  of  his 
favor  should  they  succeed. 

"  Allah  prospered  his  strategy.  Last  night  a 
great  number  of  Circassians  and  a  whole  tribe  of  the 
Bedu  were  trapped  by  him  in  a  dungeon  beneath  the 
Tower;  where,  in  the  dark,  the  two  nations  fell  to 
fighting  to  such  purpose  that,  when  the  door  was 
opened,  only  four  of  either  faction  were  left  alive." 
("The  praise  to  Allah,"  interjected  Shibli.  "All 
four  of  them  lived  to  emerge.")  "Then  Abd-ur- 
Rahman,  seeing  they  had  punished  one  another, 
grew  lenient.  He  laid  a  fine  upon  each  party.  The 

208 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Circassians  paid  the  fine  and  went  free.  The  Bedu, 
lacking  money,  offered  instead  a  fine  mare  of  the 
best  blood  of  the  desert.  But  Abd-ur-Rahman, 
having  chanced  to  find  out  that  none  of  them  had 
served  his  time  in  the  army,  holds  them  prisoners,  and 
has  taken  all  their  horses.  That  is  the  whole  story, 
O  my  uncle." 

"  How  plain  I  see  thee,  O  my  brother  Milhem," 
murmured  Shems-ud-din,  with  a  deep  sigh.  "  O 
Allah,  behold  the  wickedness  done  in  this  city  which 
Thou  hast  hallowed." 

"  Ah,  there  I  hold  with  thee,  O  my  uncle,"  said 
the  black-bearded  sheykh  heartily.  "  She  is  indeed  the 
mistress  of  perversity,  this  city,  whose  soil  is  holy. 
The  like  has  been  observed  of  El  Khalil  and  other 
sanctuaries,  and  especially  of  Mekka  itself.  The 
wicked  throng  the  markets  of  the  good.  It  is  lucky 
that  we  of  the  congregation  can  still  exert  some  sway 
over  the  agents  of  government,  or  El  Cuds  would  be 
polluted  and  defiled  by  those  who,  if  their  faith  were 
earnest,  should  esteem  her  most  highly — that  is,  by 
the  Nazarenes.  Not  once  or  twice  have  we  opposed 
the  establishment  of  a  place  of  ribaldry  by  certain 
Franks,  who  still  importune  the  authorities.  And  we 
allow  no  harlot  within  our  gates.  The  Council  of 
Notables  sides  with  us,  fortunately,  or  the  town  would 

209 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

soon  be  as  foul  with  naked  sin  as  are  the  cities  of  the 
Franks.  The  government  would  soon  succumb  to  the 
temptation  of  their  bribes.  .  .  ." 

The  young  sheykh,  whose  eyes  had  kindled  as  he 
embarked  upon  a  favorite  topic,  here  brought  his  re- 
marks to  an  abrupt  conclusion.  Only  Shems-ud-din 
made  even  a  pretense  of  listening,  and  in  his  face  was 
every  mark  of  abstraction.  Zeyd  and  Shibli,  on  their 
heels,  were  talking  apart  in  whispers.  Rising,  the  in- 
structor bowed  so  low  before  Shems-ud-din  that  the 
whole  circle  of  his  white  turban  was  seen  for  a  mo- 
ment, a  ring  round  a  scarlet  disk,  then,  with  the 
words,  "  In  thy  grace,"  he  stalked  off  umbrageously 
toward  a  group  of  cypress  trees,  where  others  of  his 
kind  were  sitting  in  the  shade. 

Shems-ud-din  at  length  observed  that  the  sun  was 
high.  Waking  out  of  dreams,  he  brushed  his  hand 
across  his  eyes.( 

'  The  house  of  the  Frank  should  be  astir  by  this 
time,"  he  said.  "  Wilt  thou,  O  my  son,  come  with 
me  thither?  " 

u  Upon  my  head.  .  .  .  Nevertheless,  since  it  is 
now  known  that  Hassan  is  not  slain,  I  would  fain  seek 
him  out,  and  hear  his  tale,  which  must  be  a  strange 
one." 

Shems-ud-din  gazed  on  Shibli's  brightened  coun- 
210 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

tenance,  and  his  eyes  were  earnest  though  he  seemed 
to  smile.  Distressed  by  that  searching  look,  the  youth 
hung  his  head  and  faltered: 

"  Allah  witness,  I  go  with  thee  gladly — very 
gladly.  It  was  for  afterwards " 

"  I  did  but  tempt  thee,  O  my  son.  I  require  thee 
not.  But  how  long  wilt  thou  strive  to  deceive  me?  " 

He  touched  Shibli's  hand  affectionately  and  would 
have  left  him;  but  the  youth  ran  after,  imploring  for- 
giveness. Gently  he  shook  him  off,  saying: 

"  Go  in  peace,  my  soul.  Allah  forbid  that  I 
should  load  thee  with  a  grief  not  thine.  Think  not  I 
blame  thee.  Go  and  hear  the  story." 


211 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

WHEN  Shems-ud-din  knocked  that  morning  at  the 
door  of  the  Frank's  house,  it  was  opened  to  him  im- 
mediately. Zeyd  had  not  time  to  exchange  the  usual 
compliments  with  a  sherbet  seller,  who  had  his  stall 
higher  up  the  alley,  in  the  shade  of  a  little  entry  which 
alone  broke  the  monotony  of  its  high  blind  walls. 
Ismail,  the  black  doorkeeper,  had  been  on  the  watch 
for  their  coming. 

"  Is  it  thou,  O  my  lord?  "  he  exclaimed,  grinning 
welcome.  "  The  hakim  would  speak  with  thy  Grace. 
He  is  now  at  meat,  but  will  soon  have  done.  Deign 
to  enter  here." 

Instead  of  conducting  Shems-ud-din  as  usual 
through  the  cool  scoured  passage  out  into  the  court 
and  so  up  to  the  sick  room,  the  black  opened  the 
door  of  a  chamber  adjoining  the  entrance — a  closet 
sparsely  furnished  in  the  Prankish  manner,  where  the 
unbeliever  used  to  receive  those  who  came  to  make 
trial  of  his  skill  in  medicine.  Zeyd  thought  to  pass  in 
with  his  master,  but  Ismail  restrained  him  by  a  strong 
friendly  clasp  of  his  shoulder.  The  door  was  closed, 
and  Shems-ud-din  left  alone  to  his  meditations. 

212 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Set  uneasily  upon  a  chair,  his  feet  tucked  under 
him  as  far  as  the  awkwardness  of  the  contrivance 
would  allow,  he  took  stock  of  the  little  room,  its  clean- 
ness, the  tall,  spindle-shanked  furniture,  the  mats  of 
some  vegetable  fiber,  and  the  buzz  of  flies  beneath  its 
vaulted  ceiling.  Upon  a  table  in  one  corner  stood  two 
wooden  boxes  linked  together  by  a  slack  cord.  Those 
boxes  gave  a  focus  to  his  contemplation.  In  the  inner 
chamber  of  so  great  a  scientist,  he  supposed  them  to 
possess  some  occult  virtue.  Yet,  all  the  while  he  sat 
gazing  on  them  and  on  the  room  in  general,  he  cared 
not  a  jot  for  anything  there,  but  prayed  only  for  the 
hakim  to  come  quickly  and  make  known  his  latest 
judgment  upon  Alia. 

At  last  the  Frank  looked  in,  coming  straight  from 
meat,  as  a  reminiscent  munching  testified. 

"  O  sheykh !  "  he  poured  forth  in  that  rapid, 
garbled  speech  of  his,  which  galloped  as  if  to  escape 
from  its  own  inaccuracy.  "  May  thy  day  be  happy 
and  blessed.  For  thy  daughter,  alas !  the  end  is  very 
near.  Stay  with  her  to-day,  I  beg  of  thee.  My  house 
is  thy  house.  I  go  now  about  my  business.  In  thy 
grace!  " 

So  saying,  and  before  Shems-ud-din  could  touch 
his  hand  or  frame  an  answer,  he  was  gone  again.  In 
his  place  came  Mas,  who  ushered  his  master  out 

213 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

through  the  sunny  court  and  up  the  stairs  to  the  door 
of  the  sick  room.  The  fragrance  of  that  room,  its 
cool,  sweet  air,  refreshed  Shems-ud-din. 

"  Praise  be  to  Allah!  "  cried  Fatmeh,  in  response 
to  his  formal  query.  In  a  posture  of  triumph,  she 
waved  him  on  toward  the  bed.  "  See  her  smile  to 
welcome  her  dear  father.  Is  she  not  almost  recov- 
ered? Never  again  did  I  think  to  behold  her  so  well, 
so  happy !  O  light  of  my  eyes !  O  my  pretty  one ! 
O  life  I  O  happy  day!" 

As  he  sat  upon  a  pile  of  cushions  arranged  for 
him  by  Fatmeh  beside  the  bed,  the  reasonable  speech 
and  ready  smile  of  the  beloved  came  near  to  persuade 
Shems-ud-din  that  the  physician  had  lied  to  him.  All 
day  long  he  sat  there,  happier  than  ever  since  his  com- 
ing to  El  Cuds;  and  that  unowned  hope  which  keeps 
the  door  of  enjoyment  locked  out  fears.  Once  he 
even  echoed  Fatmeh  when  she  praised  Allah  for  the 
girl's  perfect  recovery.  His  intelligence  was  relaxed, 
off  guard,  a  plaything  for  mocking  devils,  it  seemed 
to  him  afterwards. 

At  length,  when  it  wore  toward  evening,  Fa.meh 
went  out  for  a  while,  leaving  Shems-ud-din  alone  at 
the  bedside.  He  held  the  hand  of  his  daughter,  a 
bird's  claw  for  thinness.  No  word  passed  till  Alia 
said  earnestly: 

214 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"O  my  father!" 

Shems-ud-din  quickened  instantly  out  of  his  half- 
abstraction.  His  brain  throbbing  with  intensity  of 
interest,  he  answered : 

"  What  is  there,  O  my  daughter?  " 

"  There  is  this,  my  father:  I  fear  much  to  die.  I 
fear  the  great  darkness  and  the  loneliness.  Thou 
knowest  how  I  always  have  feared  to  be  alone  in  dark- 
ness, how  I  feel  a  jinni  clutch  me,  and  I  scream.  O 
my  dearest,  O  Allah,  what  shall  I  do  in  a  darkness 
which  has  no  boundary,  in  a  silence  whence  no  scream 
is  ever  heard?  " 

She  clasped  her  father's  arm  and  clung  to  it,  trem- 
bling. Shems-ud-din,  leaning  over  her,  heartrent  by 
the  horror  in  her  dilated  eyes,  ransacked  his  brain  for 
words  to  calm  her. 

"Take  comfort,  O  beloved!"  he  whispered. 
"  Doubtless  there  is  a  place  for  thee  in  the  garden 
of  Allah." 

"  Yes,  O  my  father.  Think  not  I  forget  all  in- 
struction. But  that  paradise  is  a  shadowy  place.  It 
seems  to  me,  as  I  lie  here  and  think,  that  a  doubt  en- 
circles it.  It  is  but  a  shadow  of  that  sure  and  glorious 
one  reserved  for  men.  Hear  now  my  prayer,  O  my 
father;  it  is  for  that  I  called  to  thee.  When  thou, 
judged  righteous,  art  with  the  blessed,  deign  to  re- 

215 


member  me,  thy  daughter,  and  ask  of  Allah  the  favor 
of  my  presence  with  thee.  The  dark-eyed  maids  will 
not  hate  me,  for  I  am  thy  daughter;  and  it  is  allowed 
thee  to  ask  for  a  woman  dear  to  thee  on  the  earth." 

"  Thou  art  no  woman  of  mine,  in  that  sense " 

"  Hush,  O  my  father !  Ask  only.  Make  petition. 
Is  not  His  mercy  boundless  ?  Oh,  how  I  have  longed 
to  know  that  place,  the  talking  fruit,  the  tree,  the 
wondrous  birds,  and  the  voice  melodious,  and  the  joy 
in  God's  presence.  Promise  to  ask  for  me,  and  my 
fear  will  be  much  less." 

"  If  Allah  will,  if  at  the  last  day  I  be  judged  fit 
for  salvation,  then  be  sure  I  will  fulfill  thy  petition,  O 
light  of  my  eyes!  " 

With  a  sigh  of  relief,  she  loosed  hold  of  him  and 
sank  back  upon  the  pillows,  closing  her  eyes.  It  was 
some  time  ere  she  again  opened  them.  Then,  meet- 
ing her  father's  troubled  gaze,  she  smiled  languidly, 
almost  voluptuously. 

"  Be  not  too  sorrowful,  O  my  dear!  May  Allah 
reward  that  kind  thought  of  thine  which  brought  me 
hither.  Here  is  like  paradise.  It  is  part  of  my  fear 
to  die  that  I  must  leave  this  pleasant  room — of  a  light 
subdued,  yet  how  cheerful! — and  the  pure  sweet 
odors,  and  the  loving  tendance.  But  what  matter! 
All  is  allotted."  She  paused  before  adding  in  a  more 

216 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

detached  strain,  as  though  trying  to  view  herself 
through  strange  eyes :  "  Knowest  thou,  O  my  father, 
that,  did  it  please  Allah  to  preserve  me  in  life,  I  think 
I  should  pray  thee  to  give  me  to  this  good  hakim  and 
not  to  Shibli.  When  I  suffer  pain,  the  hakim  needs 
but  to  look  on  me  and  it  is  gone.  His  touch  is  gentle, 
and  his  eyes  are  not  as  the  eyes  of  Shibli,  but  rather 
resemble  thine,  O  my  father " 

She  broke  off  suddenly,  for  just  then  the  door  of 
the  room  opened  and  the  hakim  himself  entered,  fol- 
lowed by  Fatmeh  and  an  unveiled  woman  who  also 
waited  upon  Alia. 

Shems-ud-din  withdrew.  He  knew  now  that  the 
hakim  had  told  truth  when  he  said  that  the  end  was 
very  near.  He  saw  his  late  torpor  of  enjoyment,  and 
the  still  evident  delight  of  Fatmeh,  in  their  true  col- 
ors, the  colors  of  the  sunset  hour,  the  fairest  of  the 
day,  the  gate  of  night.  The  sun  of  a  blinding  love 
drew  near  his  setting. 

Going  down  into  the  court,  he  spoke  with  Zeyd 
and  the  two  old  negroes  till  the  hakim  came  forth 
from  Alia,  when  he  ran  and  clutched  his  raiment. 

"  Let  me  talk  with  thee,  O  lord  of  bounty!  " 

"Willingly.  We  will  go  to  the  housetop;  it  is 
pleasant  at  this  hour." 

On  the  housetop,  moving  in  the  blaze  of  the  sink- 
217 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ing  sun,  the  Frank  explained  to  Shems-ud-din,  as  well 
as  his  knowledge  of  the  Arabic  would  permit,  the 
nature  and  peculiar  symptoms  of  Alia's  malady.  It 
was  incurable,  he  had  said  so  from  the  first.  He  had 
done  what  man  could  to  relieve  the  pain  of  it,  and  in- 
crease by  a  little  the  number  of  her  days.  There  was 
nothing  more  on  earth  that  he  could  do.  Even  sup- 
posing she  might  live,  which  was  impossible,  the  mere 
life  deprived  of  certain  organs  would  be  ghastly  tor- 
ture, no  blessing,  but  a  very  curse. 

Shems-ud-din,  hearing  him  theorize  thus,  and  mis- 
taking the  tenor  of  his  jumbled  words,  on  a  sudden 
wave  of  longing  forgot  even  Allah  Most  High. 
From  his  sinful  heart  he  cried: 

"  Save  but  the  life  of  her,  the  'life  alone!  She 
dead,  what  have  I  left  on  earth  to  care  for?  " 

Almost  fiercely,  he  gripped  the  wrist  of  the  Frank, 
repeating: 

"  Save  but  the  life,  O  best  of  physicians,  and  may 
Allah  bless  thee  ever!  " 

But  the  name  of  Allah,  glaring  in  that  connection, 
showed  him  in  a  flash  the  vanity,  the  gross  impiety,  of 
his  behavior.  Heart-humbled,  he  let  go  the  arm  of 
the  Frank.  His  head  drooped,  tears  filled  his  eyes. 

The  Frank  beheld  his  frenzy  and  the  consequent 
collapse  with  more  of  pity  than  surprise.  He  said : 

218 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

'  Thou  understandest  not.  I  can  do  nothing 
more  than  is  done  already.  Stay  here  awhile.  Let 
the  air  refresh  thee.  I  descend  once  more  into  the 
house." 

He  then  embarked  upon  some  statement  beyond 
his  command  of  language  to  express.  Shems-ud-din 
gathered  from  a  word  caught  here  and  there  that  this 
Frank  was  censured  of  other  Nazarenes  for  receiving 
the  girl  in  his  house,  even  as  he  himself  had  earned 
the  reproach  of  other  Muslims  by  allowing  her  to  lie 
there.  The  sheykh  could  only  thank  him  with  tears 
in  his  eyes. 

The  sun's  chin  touched  the  outer  roofs  to  west- 
ward. On  that  side,  the  city  seemed  of  hewn  shadow 
up  against  a  fire ;  on  the  other,  ruddy  light  held  all  the 
terraces,  with  shadow  only  in  their  crannies  which 
were  streets.  Shems-ud-din,  seated  on  a  high  roof, 
was  aware  vaguely  of  a  conflagration  of  all  heaven. 
He  thought  on  the  last  day,  when  the  sun  shall  drop 
so  near  that  the  brains  of  the  wicked  shall  boil  like 
water.  He  remained  unconscious  of  the  attendance 
of  Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas,  who,  seeing  the  Frank  de- 
scend, had  crept  up  stealthily,  not  to  be  defrauded  of 
a  moment  of  that  blest  companionship  which  fed  his 
soul. 

Not  until  the  sun  had  long  set,  and  Shems-ud-din 
219 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

had  said  his  prayers,  did  Zeyd  venture  to  assert  his 
presence  by  a  sigh  and  a  rustling  movement. 

"  Is  it  thou,  O  father  of  kindness?  "  asked  the 
sheykh  dreamily. 

And  Zeyd,  proud  to  answer  to  so  sweet  a  name, 
said: 

"  It  is  none  other,  O  my  master." 

"  Do  a  kindness,  O  my  friend.  Go  down,  I  pray 
thee,  and  inquire  in  the  house  if  my  daughter  wakes 
and  would  see  me." 

"  On  my  head,"  answered  Zeyd,  at  once  rising. 
It  seemed  but  a  second  to  Shems-ud-din  ere  the  same 
voice  said,  "  Thy  daughter  sleeps.  The  Frank  has 
given  her  a  soothing  potion." 

"  Blest  are  thy  tidings.  Then  I  wait  here  till  Mas 
shall  call  me." 


220 


CHAPTER    XIX 

SHEMS-UD-DIN  fell  back  on  reverie.  Above  the 
black  gauze  veil  of  earth,  the  stars  beat  slumberously. 
Across  the  terraced  roofs  came  the  voice  of  one  sing- 
ing, with  the  twang  of  a  lute.  The  song  was  all  of 
love.  Now  it  rose  to  a  frenzied  howl,  now  sank  to  a 
passionate  moan.  From  time  to  time,  among  the  hid- 
den ways  beneath,  a  strife  of  dogs  broke  out,  raged 
noisily  for  a  space,  and  then  subsided. 

A  great  weariness  beset  the  sheykh — the  accumu- 
lated claims  of  all  the  nights  and  days  when  he  had 
shunned  repose.  Though  he  wrestled  with  it,  aware 
that  now,  more  than  ever,  there  was  call  to  watch, 
little  by  little  that  lassitude  overpowered  him.  He 
beheld  the  star-flecked  sky  for  a  while  fitfully,  as  if  a 
curtain  flapped  between  it  and  his  eyes.  Then  he  saw 
no  more  of  sky,  or  stars,  or  darkness  veiling  the  face 
of  earth. 

He  dreamed. 

He  sat  again  in  his  shop  in  the  small  bazaar,  with 
hands  outspread  over  the  brazier.  He  heard  the 
chime  of  camel  bells.  Some  one  spoke  behind  him, 
15  221 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

when,  turning,  he  beheld  an  afrit  of  baleful  aspect, 
having  eyes  of  flame.  And  what  that  devil  bade  him 
do,  that  perforce  he  did,  though  well  knowing  that  it 
was  against  his  own  soul. 

At  blush  of  day  he  set  out  from  his  small  white 
city  of  the  tawny  hills,  and  the  people  thronged  about 
him,  called  him  holy,  cried  to  him  for  a  blessing. 
And  he  blessed  them — he,  the  slave  of  evil.  The 
welkin  rang  with  laughter  of  foul  fiends. 

He  stood  beneath  the  dying  tree,  denouncing 
Fatmeh  as  in  righteous  anger.  And  as  the  woman 
writhed  in  anguish  at  his  feet,  a  voice  came  from 
within  the  litter,  "  Is  the  woman's  sin  above  thine? 
Hast  not  thou  recourse  to  another  than  Allah,  a  crea- 
ture no  more  potent  than  this  tree?  " 

He  fell  down  and  strove  to  pray.  But  his  prayer 
went  crooked,  turned  away  from  God.  That  jinni 
was  at  his  ear,  distracting  him. 

So  he  arose  and  went  his  way  through  the  tainted 
air.  Friends  turned  to  foes.  Old  friends  grinned 
aside,  mocking  him. 

Then  came  one  who  mistook  him  for  a  saint — a 
poor  man,  good  and  faithful.  He  longed  to  unde- 
ceive him,  but  could  not,  the  devil  preventing. 

He  stood  in  the  smiling  court  of  the  Frank's 
house.  He  knelt;  he  prostrated  himself;  he  offered 

222 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

gifts;  he  prayed  to  that  unbeliever  in  place  of  Allah; 
wide  awake  to  the  sin  he  thus  committed,  yet  con- 
strained thereto  by  the  evil  thing  possessing  him. 

"  Save  but  the  life !  but  the  life  alone !  "  he  cried; 
and  the  infidel,  though  something  loath,  consented. 

Abd-ur-Rahman,  Shibli,  Hassan — all  old  friends 
forsook  him.  Only  that  simple  one,  who  believed  in 
him,  still  clung  to  him  with  reverence.  The  aged 
Chief  of  the  Learned,  all  wise  men,  remonstrated  with 
him.  He  saw  their  mouths  open  and  shut,  he  felt 
their  disapproval ;  but  his  mind  made  nothing  of  what 
they  said. 

"  Save  but  the  life !  "  he  cried  in  their  defiance. 

He  sat  in  a  chamber  of  the  Frank's  house  and 
waited,  his  soul  racked  with  suspense.  The  chair  on 
which  he  sat  proved  an  instrument  of  torture,  crushing 
both  his  feet. 

Suddenly,  a  man  moved  in  the  room  with  him, 
supporting  something  with  both  hands. 

'  The  life  is  saved,  O  sheykh,  the  life  only.    See 
it  here  before  thee." 

The  speaker  turned,  revealing  the  earth-hued 
face,  the  eyes  of  flame,  of  that  same  jinni  who  had 
beguiled  him  at  the  first.  His  laugh  had  the  rattle 
of  dry  bones  as  he  repeated:  "  Behold  what  it  is,  the 
life  only!" 

223 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Then  he  looked  and  saw  two  wooden  boxes  united 
by  a  thin  cord,  which  writhed  and  twisted  between 
them  like  a  living  worm.  The  tops  of  the  boxes  also 
seemed  alive,  for  they  rose  and  fell  regularly  like  the 
breast  of  a  sleeper.  He  stared  terror-stricken,  fixed 
to  that  accursed  chair.  He  saw  his  poor  disciple  ap- 
proach the  life  and  lift  both  hands  in  admiration  of 
the  rare  contrivance.  He  realized  the  stupendous 
mockery  of  the  hope,  inspired  by  devils,  which  had 
led  him  on  through  sin  after  sin — for  this. 

Then,  as  he  glowered  upon  that  fruit  of  evil,  the 
pulse  of  the  barren  life  grew  faint  and  fainter,  the 
cord  more  languid  in  its  twistings.  In  dread  lest 
even  that  should  escape  him,  by  a  mighty  effort  he 
wrenched  himself  free  of  the  chair.  Men  seized  him, 
wrestled  with  him,  but  he  broke  away,  crying : 

"  O  Allah,  mercy !    It  is  the  life." 

There  came  a  shock,  a  flood  of  darkness.  The 
stars  shone  above  him,  among  them  the  waning  moon, 
late  risen,  like  a  flower's  curled  petal.  Some  one  bent 
over  him,  grasping  his  shoulder.  A  woman's  wail 
came  from  below,  in  the  house. 

"  Allah  witness,  Zeyd  and  I  have  striven  hard  to 
wake  thee,  O  my  master.  It  is  now  too  late.  Thou 
hearest  that  voice  of  woe,  the  voice  of  Fatmeh.  Peace 
to  the  beloved.  She  is  but  now  dead." 

224 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Praise  be  to  Allah!     What  is  the  hour?  " 
"  It  nears  the  dawn,  O  my  master." 
"  It  is  seemly  that  we  make  arrangements  for  her 
burial  this  day.     Allah  forbid  that  I  should  trespass 
any  longer  upon  the  kindness  of  this  stranger.    I  will 
make  him  a  suitable  present,  and  then,  having  buried 
the  body  of  my  soul,  we  will  return  to  our  own  place." 
"  Spare  thyself  all   concern,"  said   Mas  gently. 
"  Ismail,  the  doorkeeper,  is  more  skilled  than  we  are 
in  the  ways  of  this  city.    And  he  values  thee  above  all 
living  men.     He  will  bargain  for  a  plot  of  ground, 
and  smooth  the  way  of  thy  grief  before  thee." 

"  May  Allah  give  peace  to  him  and  to  thee ! 
Nevertheless,  I  shall  go  with  him  to  direct  his  judg- 
ment." 

In  all  the  words  of  Shems-ud-din  there  was  now 
a  note  of  decision,  almost  cheerful,  much  at  variance 
with  his  recent  listless  sorrow.  Mas  and  Zeyd  ebn 
Abbas  marveled  at  his  might  of  resignation. 


225 


CHAPTER    XX 

IMPELLED  more  by  shame  than  prudence,  Hassan 
Agha  lay  perdue  with  his  men  two  days  and  nights 
after  his  outwitting  by  the  garrison  of  El  Cuds.  The 
hours  of  sunlight  were  spent  in  lounging  about  the 
village  of  Zeyd's  wife's  relation,  sitting  smoking  in 
the  shade  of  the  olive  yards,  or  under  screen  of  a  rock 
in  the  wady;  glozing  over  their  defeat  until,  to  the 
mind's  eye,  it  wore  the  hue  of  misfortune,  and  they 
were  no  more  shamed. 

At  break  of  the  third  day,  when  Hassan  awoke 
and  stretched  himself,  his  host,  already  afoot,  an- 
nounced his  mind  to  go  presently  to  the  city  and  visit 
Zeyd,  the  son  of  Abbas.  His  desire  was  not,  he  con- 
fessed, so  much  to  see  Zeyd  himself,  who  was  a  poor 
man  like  another,  as  to  greet  once  more  that  holy  one 
by  whom  his  house  was  honored,  to  inquire  of  his 
health  and  obtain  his  blessing. 

'  Thy  desire  is  my  own,"  said  Hassan,  yawning 
audibly.  ''  Wait  a  little  and  we  will  go  together,  thou 
and  I  and  all  my  people." 

A  little  later,  the  peasant  having  mounted  a  light- 
226 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

colored  ass,  they  rode  over  the  hill,  a  goodly  company. 
Every  one  of  Hassan's  band  was  there,  not  excepting 
the  Thief,  who  instead  of  boots  wore  bandages,  tied 
for  him  by  Ali,  who  boasted  some  skill  in  surgery. 

"What?  You  return  to  school,  all  of  you?" 
cried  a  soldier  in  the  city  gate.  "  Is  it  possible  that 
you  need  a  second  lesson?  " 

Masking  discomfort  beneath  a  genial  smile,  Has- 
san cried  peace  on  the  merry  rogue. 

The  street  within  was  crowded,  obliging  them  to 
ride  slowly  in  single  file.  The  sun,  risen  clear  of  the 
roofs,  was  hot  overhead ;  and  the  honeycomb  of  whit- 
ish stone  seemed  an  oven  constructed  on  purpose  to 
retain  and  diffuse  the  heat.  It  was  hotter  than  high 
noon,  for  noon  is  ever  tempered  by  some  breeze. 

They  rode  to  the  khan  and  there  dismounted, 
stabling  their  horses  with  the  aid  and  blessing  of  a 
ragged  hostler.  The  host  came  forth  likewise  and 
blessed  them.  By  Allah,  it  enlivened  all  things  to  be- 
hold them  once  again.  What  had  become  of  the  ex- 
cellent sheykh,  their  friend?  His  horse,  his  two 
mules,  and  the  donkey  of  his  companion  were  yet, 
they  might  see,  in  the  stable.  But  for  three  whole 
days,  to-day  the  fourth,  he  had  not  been  vouchsafed 
a  glimpse  of  the  sheykh  himself.  True,  an  old  negro 
whom  he  knew  not — a  taciturn  black  dog — had  come 

227 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

yesterday  and  brought  him  money  on  the  sheykh's 
behalf.  But  he  was  not  one  to  think  only  of  gain. 
By  Allah,  no !  He  liked  to  see  his  patrons  each  day, 
to  exchange  greetings  with  them,  and  assure  himself 
they  were  happy. 

"  Doubtless  we  shall  find  him  by  the  sanctuary," 
suggested  Shibli,  in  an  undertone ;  whereupon,  taking 
leave  of  the  host,  they  trooped  toward  the  Sacred 
Close.  In  their  midst,  Zeyd's  wife's  relation  carried 
a  jar  of  dried  fruits  and  a  bag  of  olives  for  an  offer- 
ing to  the  saint's  glory. 

Outside  the  circuit  hallowed  from  of  yore,  near 
the  foot  of  a  flight  of  steps,  sat  a  very  aged  man  in 
converse  with  another  not  so  old.  The  pair  sat  cross- 
legged  against  the  wall  of  a  fair  white  shrine  whose 
shadow  covered  them.  Hard  by,  a  withered  tree 
veined  the  ground  with  deep,  blue  shade. 

"It  is  the  Chief  of  the  Learned!"  exclaimed 
Shibli,  with  bated  breath.  Running  forward,  he  did 
obeisance  to  the  elder  of  the  two  seated.  The  younger 
rose  in  acknowledgment  of  the  civility. 

"  Who  is  there,  O  my  brother?  "  quavered  the 
sage,  whose  eyes  were  dim.  "  Who  is  he  that  hails 
me  thus  by  name?  My  ears  detect  the  footsteps  of 
a  crowd.  Doubtless  they  are  pilgrims  to  the  sanctuary 
— none  like  it  under  heaven,  save  only  the  House 

228 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

of  God  which  is  in  Mekka.  The  mercy  of  Allah 
upon  you,  O  true  believers !  Forgive  me  though  I 
remain  seated.  I  am  old  and  somewhat  feeble,  O 
my  children." 

But  when  Shibli  humbly  submitted  that  they  were 
not  come  now  as  pilgrims,  but  simply  in  quest  of  the 
Sheykh  Shems-ud-din,  that  old  man  put  off  the  divine, 
exclaiming  with  interest: 

"  You  seek  that  good  man,  that  marvel  of  instruc- 
tion? You  are  his  companions  of  the  road?  Then 
are  you  entitled  to  a  second  welcome  from  me.  You 
ask,  where  is  he  now?  Ah,  of  that  I  cannot  certify 
you.  Within  this  hour  he  left  me — he  and  the  poor 
man  who  cleaves  to  him,  and  a  white-beard  Ethiopian, 
his  servant — saying  he  would  go  and  visit  his  daugh- 
ter's grave." 

"Is  the  girl  then  dead  and  buried?"  the  Cir- 
cassians murmured  of  consternation. 

"  Have  you  not  heard?  Like  many  of  our  human 
ills,  it  is  in  truth  a  blessing.  For  had  Allah  granted 
life  to  that  girl,  our  friend  had  deemed  her  rescued  by 
the  Frank,  and  so  been  confirmed  in  an  error  of  which 
I  strove  oft  to  disabuse  him,  namely:  that  it  can  be 
lawful  to  frequent  an  obstinate  unbeliever  and  to  put 
faith  in  him — aye,  even  a  faith  beyond  that  in  one's 
own  kindred,  making  him  the  keeper  of  a  young  girl 

229 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

that  was  a  virgin,  ascribing  to  him  that  power  of 
life  and  death  which  is  the  prerogative  of  God 
alone.  Have  we  not  cause  to  rejoice  that  so  great 
and  insidious  an  error  is  rooted  out  ere  it  could 
corrupt  the  heart  of  a  man  the  best  that  draws 
breath  ? 

"  I  praise  Allah  hourly  for  His  compassion  in 
enforcing  the  argument  which  I,  His  humble  bond- 
man, could  not  persuade  our  excellent  sheykh  so  much 
as  to  hear  with  tolerance.  His  mind  is  changed, 
thanks  to  Allah !  He  now  owns  his  sin.  In  return, 
I  invited  him  to  lead  the  morning  prayer.  .  .  . 
Praise  to  Allah!  .  .  .  But  what  is  here?  What 
wouldst  thou?  " 

Zeyd's  wife's  relation,  hearing  such  heavenly 
words,  and  weary  of  forever  carrying  a  pot  of  dried 
fruits  and  a  bag  of  olives,  had  laid  those  gifts  at  the 
sage's  feet,  himself  with  them  in  prayer  for  their 
acceptance. 

"What  is  this?  Thou  bringest  gifts — thou 
whose  speech  is  of  the  poorest !  The  poor  inherit  the 
privileges  of  the  rich,  who  nowadays  have  forsworn 
liberality.  From  the  hand  of  Allah  thou  shalt  get 
reward.  Hereafter  thou  shalt  taste  the  fruits  of 
paradise,  basking  in  shade,  and  to  the  strains  of  an 
exquisite  music." 

230 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  O  Glory !  O  Holiness !  I  am  thy  debtor  till 
the  Last  Day !  "  cried  the  fellah,  at  so  rich  a  promise. 
Snuffling,  with  streaming  eyes,  he  went  after  the  Cir- 
cassians. 

Once  more  they  plunged  into  the  city's  stifled 
ways. 

"  This  is  like  hunting  a  partridge  among  the  hills. 
'  Here  he  was  a  minute  since  ' ;  and  now,  behold !  he 
has  flitted  across  the  wady.  For  him  but  a  spread  of 
the  wings,  for  me  an  hour's  rough  walking !  "  mut- 
tered Hassan,  wiping  his  brow.  For  a  pace  he  strode 
in  silence,  frowning  moodily.  All  at  once  he  cried  out : 
"  Is  that  an  English  physician  ?  I  think  not,  by  Allah ! 
The  English  physician  swears  by  his  word,  but  this 
dog  is  a  cunning  liar.  In  like  manner,  seeming  most 
upright,  making  grave  promises,  did  their  knowing 
ones  deliver  up  our  land  to  the  Muscovite.  May 
Allah  destroy  that  nation  and  blot  out  the  remem- 
brance of  it  from  on  earth !  Behold  us  perfectly  be- 
fooled !  May  Allah  burn  that  infidel !  He  received 
the  girl  into  his  house,  he  made  a  covenant  with  us 
to  heal  her.  He  took  our  gifts,  and  much  money  from 
the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-dln.  And  now  he  has  killed  the 
girl.  Doubtless  he  had  deflowered  her  secretly,  and 
so  dared  not  leave  her  in  life." 

From  further  exposition  he  was  diverted  by  a  cry 
231 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

most  bitter,  the  cry  of  one  struck  down  by  a  treach- 
erous blow. 

"  Woe,  woe  on  me !  .  .  .  The  pride  of  my  house 
— that  ancient  garment!  It  is  made  nothing;  it  is 
despised,  defiled!  It  is  passed  from  one  dog  to 
another!  .  .  .  O  dishonor!  .  .  .  O  Lord,  let  me 
slay  that  infidel!  O  Allah,  destroy  his  house  with 
fire  this  minute !  .  .  .  Him  and  the  black  hog,  I  will 
kill  them  both.  Have  they  not  earned  death?  .  .  . 
Ah,  woe !  woe !  " 

Nesib  the  Thief  had  broken  away  from  the  cher- 
ishing arm  of  Ali,  his  sworn  brother,  and  now  stood 
unsteadily,  with  hands  upraised  to  a  strip  of  sky, 
shrieking  curses  and  blubbering  by  turns.  His  face 
was  convulsed  with  anguish.  Ali  hovered  near  with 
soothing  words,  ready  to  catch  the  rocking  cripple 
should  he  fall. 

"  Right  Is  with  the  Thief,"  cried  Hassan  loudly. 
"  It  is  one  thing  to  be  fooled  by  Abd-ur-Rahman 
— a  child  of  our  house;  but  by  an  unbeliever, 
with  whom  we  dealt  too  honorably,  that  is  quite 
another.  For  the  name  of  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud- 
din,  for  our  own  good  name,  it  behooves  us  to 
take  vengeance.  Y'Allah!  To  his  house,  O  my 
children." 

Already  upon  the  shouting,  strange  forms  had 
232 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

come  about  them,  strange  voices  asked  of  the  matter. 
When,  at  Hassan's  exhortation,  they  surged  onward, 
a  crowd,  three  parts  Christian,  of  facile  sympathizers 
went  with  them.  The  Thief,  still  weeping  passion- 
ately, submitted  once  more  to  the  tender  solicitude  of 
his  sworn  brother.  The  aged  relative  of  Zeyd  ebn 
Abbas  had  disappeared. 

They  had  not  far  to  go.  One  quiet  alley  and  a 
short  tunnel  brought  them  into  the  way  which  led 
past  the  door  of  the  Frank.  In  the  manner  of  a  stone 
rolled  downward,  they  gained  momentum  from  the 
fact  of  moving.  The  murmur  of  their  indignation 
swelled  to  a  roar. 

Between  the  high,  blank  walls,  one  light,  one 
shadowed,  a  solitary  man  was  seen  running  for  dear 
life.  It  was  the  sherbet  seller  who,  finding  his  quiet 
lane  the  highway  of  a  yelling  rout,  had  forgotten  his 
stall  of  cooling  drinks. 

The  mob  swayed  and  eddied  for  a  moment 
ere  it  broke  upon  the  door  of  the  Frank  physician. 
All  who  could  come  at  it  beat  upon  that  door; 
many  more,  out  of  sympathy,  beat  the  surrounding 
wall. 

"  Open,  open,  O  cursed  heathen !  Down  with  the 
door!  The  door  yields  not.  Bring  fire.  Who 
has  fire?" 

233 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

A  woman's  voice  squealed  within.  The  assailants 
paused  to  hear  what  was  said. 

"What  is  this,  forsooth?  Merciful  Allah,  are 
these  manners  ?  '  A  thousand  knock-knock-knocks 
and  no  salam  aleykum.'  Ismail  is  out.  I  will  not 
open.  I  shall  tell  of  you  to  the  hakim." 

At  that  the  hammering,  the  shouts,  and  the  yells 
redoubled,  till  of  a  sudden  some  one  cried,  "  Look 
up !  "  and  all  eyes  sought  the  roof  line.  There,  lean- 
ing on  the  parapet,  was  the  hakim  himself.  He  held 
a  gun,  not  pointed  menacingly,  but  simply,  as  it 
seemed,  for  their  inspection. 

"  Go,  or  I  shoot !  "  he  cried. 

Even  as  he  spoke,  a  knife  whizzed  so  near  as  to 
graze  his  cheek.  The  muzzles  of  a  dozen  guns  com- 
manded him.  Then  some  stones  flew  up ;  but  by  that 
time  he  was  no  more  seen. 

"  Ha,  ha !  He  is  an  old  woman,  this  great 
hakim !  "  shouted  Hassan.  "  Another  kind  of  Eng- 
lish led  the  fight  at  Kars.  This  is  no  better  than 
some  skulking  townsman.  O  shame,  to  bear  the 
insult  of  such  an  one." 

Derisive  laughter  mingled  with  the  howl  of  exe- 
cration. But,  realizing  that  the  business  was  like  to 
go  beyond  a  frolic,  many  Christians  and  other  chance 
allies  began  to  edge  away. 

234 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Bring  fire  !  Burn  the  door !  Make  fire  the  baw- 
wab !  "  cried  one  of  the  Circassians. 

At  once  the  more  zealous  of  his  comrades  tried 
to  coax  a  flame  by  means  of  foreign  matches  and  rags 
torn  from  their  own  clothing.  But  already  the  more 
lukewarm  were  dropping  off.  The  sight  of  some  run- 
ning made  others  run.  The  panic  became  general. 
Hassan  did  not  hinder  the  flight.  He  considered 
enough  had  been  done  for  the  present  to  scare  the 
Frank. 

"Stop  running.  Scatter!  scatter!"  he  shouted 
for  their  instruction. 

In  a  moment,  had  the  watch  appeared,  they  would 
have  found  no  mob,  but  divers  groups  of  men  walk- 
ing inoffensively — nay,  timidly — in  divers  directions. 
Like  a  sand  storm  in  the  desert  of  the  south,  the  riot 
had  arisen,  raged,  and  was  clean  gone,  all  in  a  short 
quarter  of  an  hour. 

"Where  is  our  good  fellah?  Where  Ali? 
Where  Nesib  ?  "  said  Hassan  to  Shibli,  who  had  clung 
to  him  throughout  the  tumult.  "  Small  wonder  if 
some  were  swept  astray  by  that  sudden  blast.  Allah 
pardon  !  Saw  man  ever  the  like  of  it?  " 

He  proceeded  to  make  inquiry  of  those  he  saw 
stationary  in  the  markets,  if  anyone  had  seen  a  tall 
old  man  of  a  noble  countenance,  attended  by  one  who 

235 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

seemed  a  beggar,  in  all  respects,  saving  only  that  he 
did  not  beg.     At  last  one  answered: 

"  I  have  seen  the  very  man ;  and  with  them  a  lean 
old  negro  who  kept  grinning  without  mirth,"  and 
pointed  out  which  road  the  three  had  taken. 


236 


CHAPTER   XXI 

NESIB  the  Thief  was  left  before  the  house  of  the 
physician.  Unable  to  run  or  help  himself  because  of 
his  injured  legs,  he  must  have  been  knocked  down 
and  trampled  in  that  panic  rush,  but  for  the  tender 
care  of  Ali,  who  fought  manfully  to  protect  him. 
But  the  Thief  himself  was  blind  to  the  danger  es- 
caped, blind  to  everything  except  his  own  cruel  shame 
in  dishonor.  He  kept  sobbing  convulsively,  breaking 
out  at  intervals  into  a  fit  of  wild  lamentation,  which 
pierced  to  the  very  entrails  of  Ali,  who  loved  him  as 
his  soul. 

For  fear  lest  troops  should  come  and  surprise 
them,  alone  and  unprotected,  on  the  scene  of  riot,  Ali 
helped  his  suffering  love  to  shelter  in  an  archway  far- 
ther up  the  alley,  and  there  ensconced  him  in  the  seat 
of  the  sherbet  seller,  behind  the  stall  of  cooling  drinks. 
Removing  a  lemon  which  served  as  stopper  to  one  of 
the  large  bottles  upon  the  board,  he  poured  out  drink 
for  his  more  than  brother  into  a  cup  that  was  there, 
in  the  hope  to  soothe  him. 

Nesib  took  the  cup,  duteously ;  but,  when  he  would 
16  237 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

have  sipped  thereof,  the  tide  of  grief  overcame  him, 
and  he  turned  his  face  to  the  wall.  The  cup  would 
have  fallen  had  not  All  caught  it.  The  heartbroken 
voice  of  the  beloved  cut  his  bones. 

"  O  Allah,  kill  me.  Have  I  not  reached  the  nadir 
of  infamy?  Are  not  my  legs  broken,  both  of  them? 
Was  not  my  hand  bit  in  two  of  a  fat  one?  Did  not 
earth  open  and  swallow  me  ?  Fell  not  the  lot  on  me 
that  I  should  lose  my  horse?  O  Lord,  have  I  not 
borne  enough  already;  but  must  the  honor  of  my 
house  be  defiled  by  infidels,  breakers  of  faith,  ravish- 
ers,  murderers?  And  now  I  have  lost  the  knife  I  can 
never  replace — to  no  purpose,  for  it  struck  him  not. 
O  Allah,  avenge  me  quickly,  or  I  die.  Ah,  woe ! 
woe !  woe !  " 

Ali  knelt  beside  the  weeper.  He  took  Nesib's 
head  upon  his  breast.  Tender  as  a  mother  with  her 
sucking  babe,  he  wiped  the  slaver  from  mustache  and 
beard;  straightened  the  turban,  smoothed  the  puck- 
ered brow;  weeping,  he  also,  and  saying: 

"  O  the  sin  of  them.  May  Allah  destroy  those 
wicked  ones  who  have  brought  such  grief  upon  my 
dear.  But  say  not  '  I  am  helpless,'  while  thou  hast  a 
brother.  Is  not  Ali  whole?  Are  Ali's  two  legs 
broken  ?  Is  not  all  that  pertains  to  Ali  thine  always 
to  command,  employ?  Has  not  Ali  a  knife,  own 

238 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

brother  to  that  thou  didst  throw?     See,  here;  take, 
examine  it;  it  is  thine!  " 

Nesib's  limp  fingers  closed  upon  the  knife,  and  in 
gazing  down  at  it  his  face  straightened.  He  seemed 
attracted  by  its  flashing  brilliance.  But  presently, 
when  Ali  thought  him  comforted,  his  face  knit  once 
more  to  weeping,  and,  with  a  moan,  "  I  cannot  stab 
with  it,  but  only  throw  it  at  a  venture,"  he  pushed  it 
from  him. 

"  O  Allah,  look  on  him.  O  Lord,  punish  the  mis- 
creants who  have  made  him  thus,"  cried  Ali,  beside 
himself. 

He  caught  up  the  knife  and  held  it  close  under 
the  eyes  of  Nesib,  who  had  turned  his  face  to 
the  sunlight,  but  saw  nothing  through  the  rain  of 
grief. 

"See,  I  hold  this  knife  —  I,  Ali,  thy  sworn, 
brother.  The  knife  is  thine,  I  am  thy  right  arm.  I 
abide  here  with  thee;  I  watch  the  alley.  Whichever 
comes,  the  black  or  his  master,  I  slay  with  this  knife, 
the  knife  of  Nesib ;  with  this  arm,  the  arm  of  Nesib ; 
in  the  name  of  Nesib,  under  Allah.  So  shall  thy 
wrongs  be  avenged.  Art  content,  O  my  eyes?  " 

Nesib  nodded,  speechless.  He  grew  calmer  after 
that.  For  minutes  together  he  watched  the  sunny 
lane  with  scarce  a  sob;  but  then  the  grief  which 

239 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

gnawed  his  vitals  would  again  assert  itself,  and  Ali 
would  break  forth  again  in  imprecations,  and  renew 
his  oath  of  vengeance. 

"  See,  I  pull  off  my  boots,"  he  said.  "  There 
shall  be  no  warning,  no  betraying  footstep.  The  dog 
shall  fall  suddenly  as  by  the  hand  of  Allah." 

He  dragged  off  the  homemade  boots  of  goatskin, 
which  he  wore  for  riding,  and  set  them  before  Nesib 
to  perfect  assurance. 

"  Hush!  One  approaches.  I  hear  the  voice  of 
slippers." 

Peeping  cautiously  out,  Ali  drew  back  quickly. 

"  It  is  the  black.  He  hastens.  He  has  heard 
of  the  tumult.  Let  us  hide  behind  the  stall  a  moment. 
Quick,  I  help  thee.  Y'Allah !  He  is  acquainted  with 
the  sherbet  seller." 

"  I  would  fain  see  him,"  whispered  Nesib,  stifling 
a  sob. 

The  footsteps  paused  before  the  entry,  the  negro 
looking  for  his  old  acquaintance,  but  they  quickly 
went  on.  Ali  stole  forth,  crouching,  swift  and  noise- 
less as  a  leopard  to  the  spring. 

The  Thief  heard  a  gurgled  cry,  then  three  long 
groans,  ere  Ali  crept  back  out  of  the  sunshine,  and 
placed  in  his  hands  the  dagger,  warm  and  wet. 

Still  sobbing  a  little,  reminiscently,  Nesib  took  the 
240 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

dagger  and  surveyed  it  lovingly,  stroking  and  fon- 
dling it  in  his  lap. 

"  It  is  finished.    Art  content,  O  beloved?  " 

"  May  thy  goods  increase,  O  AH,  O  my  dear 
brother !  "  murmured  the  Thief,  still  gloating  on  the 
bloody  knife.  Then,  on  a  sudden  prompting,  he 
stretched  out  his  arms  and  caught  Ali  to  his  breast 
in  a  passionate  embrace. 

It  was  Ali's  turn  to  weep  convulsively.  They 
clung  together,  sobbing  for  joy  in  their  mutual 
devotion. 

"  Now  let  us  go,  O  delight,"  murmured  Ali,  at 
length.  "  One  beheld  the  deed.  He  was  afar  off  and 
he  fled.  It  may  be  he  will  tell  others." 

"  I  am  ready,"  replied  the  Thief,  wiping  the 
dagger  within  the  breast  of  his  raiment. 

Just  then  a  woman's  shriek  rent  the  air,  giving 
them  pause.  Ali  whispered: 

"  They  have  found  the  dead  pig.  Wait  a  little, 
O  my  soul.  Let  us  once  more  hide  behind  the 
stall." 

The  sound  of  lamentation  continued  but  a  little 
while.  They  heard  a  man's  voice  give  directions,  fol- 
lowed by  the  slam  of  a  door.  Then  all  was  still. 

A  minute  longer  they  crouched  in  hiding.  Then 
Ali  helped  his  injured  love  to  rise.  Nesib's  arm 

241 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

round  Ali's  neck,  All's  arm  about  Nesib  supporting 
him,  they  emerged  into  the  sunlight. 

They  had  not  accomplished  many  steps  from  their 
retreat,  when  the  sherbet  seller,  returning  to  his  stall, 
accosted  them. 

"  A  happy  day,  O  my  uncles !  Saw  you  aught  of 
the  great  battle  that  was  here  awhile  ago?  Why 
ask!  Thy  friend  is  injured.  Ah,  Allah  knows  the 
wickedness  of  some  people.  A  drink,  now,  flavored 
of  rose,  or  tamar-hind,  or  lemon,  would  refresh  his 
honor."  He  ran  to  his  stall  and  returned  with  a  cup 
and  bottle.  "Nay,  take  it  as  a  gift;  ennoble  me. 
The  breeze  has  sprung  up,  but  one  feels  it  not  just 
here.  I  present  the  breeze  and  the  shade  of  trees  and 
the  bubbling  waters.  Do  but  sip,  I  entreat  thee ;  it  is 
paradise." 


242 


CHAPTER    XXII 

FROM  visiting  his  daughter's  grave,  Shems-ud-dm 
sauntered  round  by  the  walls  of  the  city  till  he  came 
to  that  rocky  steep,  at  the  top  of  which  he  had 
preached  to  the  negroes.  He  took  a  path  that  ran 
down  slantwise  into  the  wady,  and  the  embattled  walls 
were  soon  lost  to  sight.  Mas  and  Zeyd,  the  son  of 
Abbas,  followed  him  implicitly,  though  at  a  discreet 
distance,  and  when  at  length  he  crossed  his  legs  in  the 
shade  of  a  little  bluff,  they  took  example  from  him 
and  did  likewise. 

The  sheykh's  face  was  coldly  serene  as  he  gazed 
on  the  sunburnt  rocks,  among  which  rose  ancient 
tombs  strange  of  shape.  He  had  sat  there  in  peace 
about  an  hour  when  a  shout  disturbed  him.  It  fell 
from  the  rocks  above,  and  ruffled  his  countenance  as 
a  stone  the  surface  of  a  pool.  Other  shouts  ensued. 
He  recognized  the  voice  of  Hassan,  the  laugh  of 
Shibli.  Men  came  scrambling  down  the  rocks.  With 
scarce  an  effort  he  admitted  the  call  for  patience,  and 
his  brow  smoothed  again. 

"  Allah  comfort  thee,  O  sheykh,"  cried  the  fore- 

243 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

most  of  the  Circassians.  "  May  the  wound  to  thy 
soul  be  healed.  May  that  treacherous  Frank  perish, 
his  house  be  burnt,  his  parents  dishonored.  Already 
we  have  done  something  to  avenge  thee.  In  sh'  Allah, 
we  have  made  him  quake  a  little." 

"  I  hear  words  of  no  meaning,"  said  Shems-ud- 
din,  who  had  risen.  "  What  intend  you  by  such 
talk?" 

Dismayed  by  the  stern  front  opposed  by  their 
saint  to  news  they  had  deemed  most  welcome,  the  men 
herded,  silent  and  abashed,  pending  the  arrival  of 
their  chief  who,  being  elderly  and  stiff  at  the  joints, 
used  caution  in  the  descent  from  rock  to  rock.  At 
length  Hassan,  breathless,  slid  down  among  them. 

"  O  beloved,  how  great  the  grief.  How  I  sor- 
row with  thee,"  he  exclaimed  in  accents  of  condo- 
lence. "  By  Allah,  it  seems  ten  years  since  last  I 
saw  thee." 

"  It  is  in  truth  some  days,  and  thou  art  welcome, 
O  my  dear.  But  say,  what  is  this  of  which  thy  com- 
panions prate — some  outrage  done  to  the  hakim,  my 
benefactor? "  Shems-ud-din  stood  erect,  severely 
questioning.  His  eyes  met  Hassan's  steadily. 

The  Guardian  of  the  Frontier  hung  his  head  as 
at  the  Last  Day.  But  soon  recovering,  he  told  the 
story  of  the  riot,  representing  it  as  a  game,  a  little 

244 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

pleasantry  at  the  expense  of  one  who  had  deserved 
much  worse  at  their  hands;  for  had  he  not  obtained 
their  presents  by  a  false  pretense  ? 

"  As  for  naming  him  thy  benefactor,  O  scion  of 
a  noble  house,  I  grieve  to  hear  thee  thus  exalt  the  dirt 
beneath  thee.  Hast  thou  not  paid  him  as  though 
he  had  performed  his  covenant?  Surely  he  is  thy 
debtor.  Remains  the  affront  to  thee  and  all  of  us 
here." 

"  I  laugh  for  pity,"  said  Shems-ud-din,  with  a 
fleeting  smile.  "  In  the  case  of  some  other  than 
myself,  I  might  laugh  with  amusement,  for  the  thing 
is  ludicrous.  Is  it  not  a  stock  expedient  with  the 
provokers  of  mirth  to  throw  the  punishment  for  crime 
upon  some  good  man  and  simple,  most  innocent 
thereof?  I  alone  have  sinned,  and  lo!  you  visit  my 
sin  upon  this  physician,  whose  fault  has  been  excess 
of  kindness.  Shall  I  not  own  obligation?  I  offered 
the  half  of  my  fortune ;  I  struck  no  bargain  with  him 
beforehand;  he  could  have  claimed  the  half  of  me. 
Yet,  when  it  came  to  the  reckoning,  he  asked  but  his 
just  due,  and  named  all  the  items  in  account.  Which 
of  you,  in  his  place,  would  have  dealt  so  gently  with 
a  stranger? 

"  You  assail  his  house,  assault,  affright  him.  By 
what  right,  I  demand  to  know?  Are  you,  and  not  I, 

245 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

in  account  with  him  ?  Hear  the  words  of  Allah.  You 
know  the  koran,  '  He  that  shall  err,  shall  err  only  for 
his  own  soul,  nor  shall  any  laden  be  charged  with 
another's  burden  ' ;  and  again,  '  The  fate  of  every 
man  is  tied  about  his  neck.'  By  what  right,  then,  do 
you  meddle  with  the  things  which  concern  me  only? 
Is  your  sympathy  for  me  so  great  that,  seeing  I  have 
sinned,  you  must  sin  yourselves  more  abominably? 
.  .  .  Go,  O  Zeyd.  Speed  to  the  house  of  that  worthy 
infidel.  Express  to  him  my  regret  for  the  disturbance 
caused  to  his  house  by  these,  my  too  ardent  sym- 
pathizers." 

"  Ready,  O  my  master."  Zeyd  moved  to  obey, 
but  laggingly,  and  with  the  mien  of  one  much  loath. 
For  Zeyd  prized  the  eloquence  of  Shems-ud-din  above 
all  jewels.  The  fine  words,  accurately  pronounced  by 
the  scholar,  sang  of  love  to  his  soul,  which  languished 
as  a  bride  expectant.  And  never  had  Shems-ud-din 
spoken  as  now  he  spoke,  with  such  authority,  such  in- 
spiration in  the  choice  of  fitting  words.  Zeyd  grudged 
that  feast  to  the  Circassians,  to  Mas,  to  fickle  Shibli. 
He  alone  could  quite  appreciate  it;  and  he  must  go. 
He  went  very  slowly. 

The  other  listeners,  disconcerted  by  the  attitude 
of  their  saint,  still  more  by  an  unwonted  smile  which 
flickered  round  his  lips,  had  not  a  word  to  reply.  Sar- 

246 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

casm  was  a  weapon  they  all  feared,  and  it  was  the 
weapon  least  expected  from  so  mild  a  man.  But  what 
they  took  for  sarcasm  in  this  instance  was,  in  truth, 
but  the  natural  expression  of  one  new-weaned  from 
earthly  longing,  whose  mind  now  dwelt  with  Allah 
and  beheld  the  things  of  earth  from  an  immeasurable 
height. 

He  went  on  to  speak  to  them  of  his  own  sin,  quot- 
ing, "  Man  prays  for  evil,  as  he  prays  for  good,  for 
man  is  unthinking  " ;  when  all  personal  feelings  be- 
came lost  in  pure  admiration  of  his  golden  gift.  His 
language  grew  so  refined,  his  mind  soared  so  near  to 
heaven,  that  they,  his  hearers,  could  only  gasp  and 
praise  the  Lord. 

.  "  Hear   the   supreme   khatib.      O   my  soul,   the 
heavenly  preacher,"  panted  one  and  another. 

All  at  once  there  burst  a  sobbing  cry  from  out  the 
rocks  above,  the  cry  of  one  at  the  pang  of  sensual 
enjoyment. 

"Ah,  ah!  his  lips  are  gold.  Gems  shower 
from  them.  O  my  eyes!  O  Allah  One  and  Un- 
accompanied !  " 

The  preacher  paused  and  glanced  upward.  A 
disreputable  tarbush,  garnished  with  a  dirty  rag  by 
way  of  turban,  peeped  above  a  neighboring  crag. 

"  O  Zeyd,"  cried  the  sheykh  severely,  "  art  thou 
247 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

not  sped  then?    Since  it  irks  thee  to  do  my  bidding, 
Mas  goes  instead  of  thee." 

u  Nay,  I  go,  O  my  lord."  The  face  and  shoul- 
ders, half  the  form  of  Zeyd,  popped  up  very  sud- 
denly. "  But  oh,  what  words !  What  treasure  !  O 
blessed  day !  "  He  was  seen  to  scale  the  rocks  with 
alacrity. 

His  master  smiled;  and  even  in  the  moment  of 
displeasure  there  had  been  that  about  his  mouth  and 
in  his  eyes  which  showed  that  the  mind  despised  its 
own  vexation. 

Shems-ud-din  continued  to  speak  of  sin,  and 
the  need  of  good  works,  and  of  the  judgment, 
when  a  book  shall  be  given  to  each  of  the  sons  of 
men  wherein  he  shall  read  his  own  account  for  good 
or  evil. 

The  sun  of  noon  burned  overhead,  yet  none 
stirred  to  escape  its  rays.  Above  the  wady,  a  gash  in 
the  rugged  landscape,  a  hawk  hovered,  seeming  mo- 
tionless. Faint  sounds  came  wafted  from  a  village  on 
the  yonder  steep,  of  one  color  with  the  rocks  to  which 
it  clung. 

.  At  length  a  growth  of  noise  above  them  excited 
curiosity.  Some  of  the  circle  rose  and  scanned  the 
height. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  "  cried  Hassan.     "  A  bird  must 
248 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

have  carried  the  fame  of  thy  discourse  into  the  city, 
O  beloved,  for  much  people  watch  us  from  the  rocks." 

"  Allah !  What  was  it  flashed  there,  behind  that 
stone?  " 

"  By  the  Koran,  there  are  men  all  about  us, 
moving  secretly." 

Hassan  Agha  tugged  at  his  white  mustache. 

"  Let  us  be  walking,"  he  commanded.  "  Show 
no  concern,  my  children,  nor  fight,  for  the  foe  is 
numerous.  With  thy  leave,  O  beloved,  we  will  return 
to  the  city  together." 

Shems-ud-din,  undismayed,  took  the  hand  held 
out  to  him,  and  walked  with  his  old  friend  slowly 
along  the  path  which  wound  upward  among  the  rocks. 

"Stand,  all  of  you." 

From  beside  an  ancient  tomb  two  soldiers  stood 
forth  suddenly,  barring  the  way.  At  that  Hassan 
railed: 

'What  ails  you,  O  my  dears?  Has  the  sun 
addled  your  wits  that  you  venture  to  command  this 
holy  man,  a  great  one,  no  less  than  brother  to  the  re- 
nowned Milhem  Pasha,  whom  Allah  preserve." 

Soldiers  were  now  all  about  them,  joking  good- 
naturedly.  There  had  been  no  resistance,  and  they 
were  grateful,  for  it  was  very  hot. 

"  Allah  witness  how  I  grieve  for  you,"  laughed 
249 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

one  in  whom  Hassan  recognized  the  Bimbashi  Mu- 
hammed.  "  But  to  sift  the  innocent  from  the  guilty 
is  not  our  business.  That  belongs  to  the  judge;  let 
him  see  to  it.  By  Allah,  thou  art  out  of  luck,  old  fox. 
This  is  no  jesting  matter  like  ours  of  the  other  night." 

The  man  held  his  tongue,  for  a  superior  officer 
now  approached  them,  scrambling  up  from  below. 
Hassan  scanned  the  features  of  the  newcomer  eagerly, 
but  sighed;  it  was  not  Abd-ur-Rahman. 

"  With  what  are  we  charged?  "  he  inquired,  scorn 
born  of  indignation  making  the  words  a  sword  thrust. 

"  By  my  life,  I  know  not  for  certain,"  came  the 
light  rejoinder.  "  There  is  talk  of  a  riot  and  a  man 
slain,  an  old  negro,  the  slave  of  a  Jew  of  some  sort, 
who  is  an  English  subject.  It  is  a  word  from  the  Eng- 
lish consul  that  has  fluttered  the  Mutesarrif ;  we  do 
not  move  so  quickly  in  the  cause  of  true  belief.  A  sin, 
as  my  brother — who  is  religious — rightly  says.  But 
what  would  you?  The  infidels — Jew  and  Christian 
— outnumber  us  here  in  the  proportion  of  ten  to  one ; 
and  they  have  strong  and  unscrupulous  protectors  in 
the  Powers  of  Europe.  To  keep  the  mastery  we  must 
sometimes  throw  a  crumb.  May  Allah  cleanse  you 
of  the  charge." 

Shems-ud-dm  heard  these  words  and  many  others; 
but  their  purport  remained  vague  to  him.  He  per- 

250 


THE    H'OUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ceived  only,  and  with  a  species  of  exultation,  that  he 
was  called  upon  to  exhibit  that  strength  in  resignation 
which  now  informed  his  whole  being.  On  the  broad 
road,  beneath  the  echoing  gate,  in  the  rough-paved 
streets,  he  heard  the  murmur  of  a  crowd,  restless,  in- 
quisitive. Here  it  surrounded  them,  there  dropped 
behind.  Of  a  sudden,  in  a  sunless  place,  a  man  cried 
suddenly : 

"O  Hassan  Agha!  O  holy  Shems-ud-din !  O 
Allah  most  high!  What  thing  do  we  behold?  "  The 
voice  went  along  with  them,  shouting  questions,  till 
at  length  it  fawned  in  entreaty.  "  O  lords  of  kind- 
ness !  O  soldiers  brave  and  good !  Take  us  also,  for 
the  crime  is  ours." 

"  Since  thou  and  thy  friend  desire  the  scourge,  the 
prison,  even  death,  perhaps,  who  am  I  to  gainsay  thee, 
O  father  of  two  bad  legs?  "  laughed  the  captain  of 
the  guard;  and  Nesib  the  Thief,  sustained  of  Ali, 
came  in  among  them. 

At  the  door  of  the  Mehkemeh,  several  of  the 
curious  slipped  in  with  the  prisoners,  for  these  were 
too  plentiful  for  the  soldiers  to  keep  strict  count, 
though  the  trial  was  ordered  to  be  secret. 

The  hall,  murmurous  with  their  voices,  struck 
dark  on  Shems-ud-din.  It  was  some  time  ere  he  could 
see  the  likeness  of  the  judge;  but  at  length  he  dis- 

251 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

cerned  a 'fat  man  seated  in  apparent  dejection  upon 
a  dais,  a  scribe  before  him,  and  on  his  right  hand  one 
but  little  leaner,  who  wore  Prankish  clothes  beneath 
his  fez,  and  appeared  in  the  best  of  spirits — a  servant 
of  the  English  consul,  it  was  whispered. 


252 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

YUSUF  EFFENDI,  Cadi  of  El  Cuds,  was  sullen 
and  discontented,  in  th,e  mood  to  strike  his  best  friend. 
An  hour  ago  a  scribbled  note  from  the  Mutesarrif 
had  dashed  the  complacency  with  which  he  sat  listen- 
ing to  a  case  of  fraud  between  a  Jew  and  a  Greek, 
having  garnered  more  than  the  sum  sued  for  in  bribes 
from  either  party.  The  court  had  to  be  cleared, 
judgment  given  hastily,  when  he  loved  deliberation 
and  the  dainty  quibbling  of  the  pleaders  before  him. 
Other  cases,  no  less  profitable,  had  to  be  adjourned — 
rich  plaintiffs  and  defendants  driven  forth  with  the 
money  in  their  hands;  and  all  in  favor  of  a  cause 
prejudged  by  his  superior — a  political  cause  for  which 
no  gifts  could  be  received,  no  advocates  employed 
— at  the  behest  of  an  unclean  beast,  the  English 
consul. 

"  It  is  imperative  that  the  delinquents  die  ere  sun- 
set. Make  some  show  of  trial.  Shut  the  door." 

There  was  no  evading  the  clear  orders  of  one  on 
whose  will  he  depended  for  rank  and  honor.  Yet  he 
would  fain  have  shirked  the  responsibility,  for  in  a 
17  253 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

fat  and  easy  way  he  feared  God.  Though  he  received 
gifts,  of  course,  from  all  and  sundry,  in  giving  judg- 
ment he  knew  no  influence  save  the  rights  of  the  case. 

He  was  no  roving,  conscienceless  official  to  level 
foul  with  clean,  but  a  man  of  fixed  abode  and  conse- 
quent respectability,  who,  though  urbane  in  his  deal- 
ings with  the  infidels,  esteemed  them  no  more  than 
dogs  in  his  way  to  business.  This  charge  to  do  the 
dirty  work  of  a  Frank  humiliated  him.  It  galled  his 
pride,  also,  to  have  to  endure  the  familiarity  and  re- 
gard the  hints  of  a  low-born  Christian  of  his  own  city, 
who  actually  had  the  impudence  to  sit  at  his  right 
hand,  in  the  place  of  honor.  Yusuf  would  fain  have 
invoked  the  Mufti,  as  usual  in  cases  of  religious  differ- 
ence; but,  knowing  the  anxiety  of  the  governor  that 
the  trial  should  be  hid  especially  from  the  mosque 
authorities,  he  dared  not  do  so.  He  groaned  in 
soul: 

"  O  day  of  evil !  Is  it  not  enough  that  I,  who  had 
ever  enjoyed  the  security  which  belongs  to  respect, 
have  been  robbed  of  my  rents,  stripped,  and  foully  in- 
sulted within  this  week?  Must  I  afterwards  jeopard- 
ize my  salvation  at  the  call  of  the  wicked?  " 

The  inflow  of  so  many  prisoners  as  almost  to  fill 
the  hall  caused  the  judge  to  discern  faint  rays  of  hope. 
It  could  be  necessary  to  condemn  only  a  few  of  them ; 

254 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

and  the  rest,  in  the  rapture  of  escape,  might  well  make 
thank  offerings  to  their  preserver. 

He  turned  from  converse  with  the  noisome  beast 
beside  him  to  whisper  in  his  scribe's  ear: 

''  Write:  How  many  are  to  die?  and  address  to 
his  Highness  the  Mutesarrif." 

The  scribe  straightway  wrote  as  commanded, 
while  the  Nazarene,  sweetly  smiling,  craned  his  neck 
in  a  vain  attempt  to  spy  what  was  written.  The  note 
was  given  to  an  attendant  who,  crying,  "  Oah ! 
Oah !  "  pushed  his  way  to  the  door. 

Then,  having  enjoined  silence,  Yusuf  began  to 
harangue  the  multitude,  without  looking,  in  a  man- 
ner of  abstract  reprobation,  heedless  of  the  impatience 
of  the  consul's  representative  and  the  rising  murmur 
in  the  court,  until  an  answer  was  received;  when  he 
took  breath  just  long  enough  to  decipher: 

"  As  many  as  you  judge  fit.  The  wild  beast  is 
bloodthirsty — a  danger  unless  we  glut  him.  At  sight 
of  this,  tear  up." 

Upon  that,  in  a  few  words,  he  closed  his  lecture 
on  jurisprudence,  which  had  served  its  turn. 

"  In  mercy  let  the  trial  now  begin,"  murmured  the 
Offense  at  his  side  pointedly. 

"  Interrupt -not,  I  beseech  thee,"  rejoined  Yusuf, 
giving  sting  for  sting.  He  could  not  look  upon  those 

255 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

true  believers  he  was  doomed  to  wrong.  Shame 
dropped  a  curtain  at  the  edge  of  the  dais.  With  eyes 
downcast  upon  a  chaplet  with  which  his  hands  kept 
toying,  he  asked,  "  Who  accuses?  " 

"  I  am  he,"  returned  the  Christian;  "on  behalf 
of  the  illustrious  consul  of  Her  Britannic  Majesty 
and  as  representing  one  Jurjus  Mekkuswell,  a  mis- 
sionary doctor,  who  is  a  British  subject." 

"  Against  whom,  and  of  what  nature,  the  ac- 
cusation? " 

"  Against  divers  Circassians,  colonists,  from  Jebel 
Ajlun,  for  attacking  the  house  of  the  hakim  and 
murdering  one  Ismail,  his  servant.  But  principally 
against  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  El  Attar,  likewise 
from  Jebel  Ajlun,  who  instigated  the  said  attack,  the 
said  murder." 

"  The  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  El  Attar,  is  he  pres- 
ent in  the  court?  "  cried  the  judge,  without  looking 
up  from  his  beads. 

"  Present,"  answered  a  full,  clear  voice. 

"  Are  there  any  Circassians  present  in  the  court?  " 

"  No  need  to  ask,  O  lord !  The  court  is  full  of 
them,"  murmured  the  scribe  at  his  feet. 

"  It  is  well.  The  accused  are  before  us.  Let  the 
English  hakim  testify  against  them." 

At  that  the  Christian  showed  annoyance,  calling 
256 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  demand  vexatious,  unnecessary.  The  hakim  had 
made  deposition  before  the  consul,  which  was  quite 
sufficient.  Naturally,  after  the  outrages  committed 
against  him,  he  was  not  calm  enough  to  appear  in  pub- 
lic. To  what  purpose  on  earth  should  he  come  ?  The 
crime  was  indisputable,  for  it  was  the  talk  of  the 
whole  city.  And  the  prisoners  had  made  themselves 
so  notorious  on  former  occasions,  that  any  lad  out  of 
the  street  could  identify  them. 

The  Cadi  appeared  dissatisfied  with  the  represen- 
tations of  his  loathsome  colleague.  He  would  not 
submit  without  a  wrangle.  But  at  length,  after  pro- 
longed whisperings,  he  said  aloud: 

"  Good.  Then  what  witness  have  you?  " 
'We  have  a  capital  witness — none  like  him! — 
a  certain  vender  of  cooling  drinks,  who  saw  all  that 
befell.  He  has  been  examined  already  before  the  con- 
sul, but  is  now  in  this  court,  at  your  Excellency's 
pleasure.  His  name  is  Musa.  If  it  please  you, 
hear  him." 

"  Call  Musa  the  sherbet  seller,"  murmured  the 
Cadi  wearily;  and  "Musa  the  sherbet  seller"  was 
called  on  every  hand. 

A  Muslim  of  middle  age  pushed  forward  through 
the  crowd.  He  bent  double  before  the  dais. 

"  To  hear  is  to  obey,  O  majesty !  " 
257 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Do  thou  interrogate  him,  O  khawajah,"  said 
the  Cadi  bitingly.  ''  Thou,  it  seems,  art  conducting 
this  trial." 

"  Allah  forbid  that  I  should  usurp  any  function 
of  your  Grace !  "  murmured  the  supple  Christian. 
Nevertheless  he  proceeded  to  question  the  witness, 
while  the  judge  told  his  beads  sulkily,  never  lifting 
his  eyes. 

Did  the  witness  recognize  among  the  men  in  court 
a  certain  sheykh  who  had  been  wont  to  go  often  to 
the  house  of  the  English  physician,  for  the  reason 
that  his  sick  daughter  lay  there  ? 

Most  certainly  he  did,  and  was  glad  to  see 
the  excellent  man  in  life  and  health,  after  the 
grievous  blow  he  had  sustained  in  the  loss  of  his 
daughter. 

It  was  not  the  answer  required  by  the  consul's 
delegate;  but  he  swallowed  his  disconcertion  and 
proceeded. 

"  What  kind  of  a  man  did  the  witness  consider 
him  to  be?  " 

'  The  very  best  kind  of  man.  No  less  than  a 
saint,  by  Allah." 

Stung  by  a  cackling  noise  in  the  throat  of  the 
judge,  the  Nazarene  thundered: 

"  O  lying  dog!     Thou  didst  tell  another  tale  to 
258 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  consul's  excellency.    Thou  hast  made  oath  that  he 
was  concerned  in  the  riot." 

"  No,  no,  by  thy  leave,  O  dear  lord;  I  said  not 
that  he  knew  aught  of  the  riot,  but  that  they  who 
made  the  tumult  might  have  been  his  companions." 

"  Are  they  here  present,  those  rioters?  " 

"  Allah  knows !  In  so  great  a  crowd  there  may 
be  some  of  them.  But  my  eyes  see  some  who  are  very 
certainly  innocent.  That  man  there,  who  leans  upon 
his  neighbor,  is  one  of  the  victims,  having  both  his 
legs  injured  in  the  battle.  I  know  well,  for  he  is  a 
customer  of  mine  and  refreshed  himself  at  my  stall 
afterwards.  And  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din,  he  is  very 
innocent;  and  the  negro  Mas,  his  servant " 

"Liar!  Dolt!  Madman!  He  is  the  chief 
offender,  that  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  !  Get  thee  gone, 
O  perjured  wretch !  May  Allah  destroy  thee !  " 
The  Christian  turned  from  denouncing  the  recreant 
to  murmur  suavely  in  the  Cadi's  ear,  "  It  is  my  error. 
This  witness  ought  to  have  been  examined  private- 
ly. He  dares  not  to  speak  truth  .in  the  hearing  of 
the  prisoners  for  fear  of  vengeance,  since  they  all 
know  him." 

'What?  Is  it  finished  already?  Have  you  no 
other  witness?"  Again  that  strange  sound  was 
heard  in  the  throat  of  the  judge. 

259 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"No,  O  Excellency;  but  the  charge  is  clear, 
the  case  proven  beforehand.  Wilt  thou  not  give 
judgment?  " 

Yusuf  Effendi  feigned  not  to  hear  the  suggestion. 
Since  it  was  God's  will  that  he,  the  Cadi  of  El  Cuds, 
should  be  chained  to  an  ape,  the  shackles  should  not 
gall  him  only.  The  monkey,  too,  must  feel  them  on 
the  raw.  There  were  yet  some  hours  till  sunset. 

"  It  behooves  first  to  hear  the  defense,"  he  said 
languidly ;  and  then  sat  in  silence  for  some  minutes. 

Peace  had  fallen  on  the  court.  The  prisoners 
and  their  guards,  tired  of  standing,  all  sat  now  upon 
the  floor. 

At  length  the  Cadi,  still  intent  on  his  beads,  mur- 
mured sleepily: 

"  Who  is  chief  among  you  reprobates,  let  him 
speak." 

At  that  there  arose  some  whispered  debate  among 
the  accused,  as  though  to  adjust  the  preeminence. 
But  soon  a  clear  voice  uttered: 

"  O  Excellency,  what  can  be  said?  I  am  an  old 
man,  and  my  life  is  of  small  account.  If  one  here 
must  die,  be  mine  the  lot,  and  let  all  these  go  free.  It 
is  the  will  of  Allah,  unto  Allah  praise !  Is  it  not  bet- 
ter for  a  man  to  die  being  innocent  than  being  guilty? 
For  Allah  is  just  and  compassionate ;  He  will  correct 

260 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  balance.  But  thou,  O  my  son,  consider,  I  beseech 
thee,  how  heinous  thy  sin  is !  Thy  mind  is  bent,  not 
to  minister  justice,  but  to  slay.  Thou  hast  not  even 
recited  the  charge  against  me.  The  hand  of  the  in- 
fidel is  well  seen  in  thy  behavior.  A  tempter  grins  at 
thy  right  ear.  Beware,  O  judge,  how  thou  pervert 
judgment;  for  thyself  shalt  be  judged  and  shalt 
wander  blind  at  the  Last  Day !  " 

Yusuf  did  not  look  up  nor  cease  from  telling  his 
beads.  He  said  irritably: 

"  Shall  the  caitiff  rebuke  his  judge?  Smite  his 
mouth  some  of  you !  .  .  .  Let  a  second  now  speak, 
and  see  that  he  be  not  insolent." 

This  time  a  rougher  voice,  using  the  speech  of  the 
common  soldiers  with  an  accent  like  the  Turkish, 
declaimed: 

"  O  most  Excellent,  I  am  a  Circassian,  chief  of 
those  who  migrated  to  this  land  years  ago  from  the 
yoke  of  the  Muscovite.  The  Sultan  Abdul  Mejid 
named  me  Guardian  of  the  Frontier  by  express 
firman.  Great  honor  had  we  in  those  days,  I  and  my 
companions,  both  at  Istanbul  the  mighty  and  on  ar- 
rival in  this  land.  Then  men  vied  one  with  another 
in  kindness  toward  us.  Power  stood  by  us  like  a 
sworn  brother.  But  to-day  all  is  changed.  No  man 
regards  us  any  more.  I  have  served  the  Sultan 

261 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

faithfully  at  my  post  these  many  years.  I  have  swept 
back  the  Bedu  from  the  borders  of  this  province,  as 
one  strikes  the  dust  off  a  friend's  robe. .  I  have  fur- 
thered every  effort  of  the  government.  And  for  what 
reward?  To  be  denied  a  few  rifles,  a  sufficiency  of 
ammunition,  by  your  garrison.  To  be  treated  worse 
than  you  treat  the  beggar  in  your  gates.  To  be  haled 
before  your  Grace  this  day  upon  a  charge  I  compre- 
hend not! 

"  Truly  the  faith  of  those  in  authority  is  but  for 
a  day,  and  their  obligation  but  as  shifting  sand.  Let 
none  deceive  himself  to  think  it  lasting,  lest  he  stand 
as  I  stand  now,  ashamed  in  his  old  age." 

Overcome  with  emotion,  the  speaker  paused;  to 
resume  shortly: 

"  What  would  be  said  of  a  man  who  thus  used  his 
servant?  Now  I  care  not  though  we  die,  I  and  my 
companions,  for  death  is  not  more  bitter  than  has 
been  our  undeceiving.  We  have  sinned  oft  and 
grievously,  and  it  may  be  we  deserve  to  die.  But  put 
to  death  the  upright  and  illustrious  Shems-ud-din, 
that  friend  of  all  the  learned,  dear  to  Allah,  and  may 
all  thy  bones  rot  painfully  joint  by  joint!  May  all 
men  spew  at  sight  of  thee !  May  thy  children ' 

A  mighty  uproar  drowned  the  curse.  The  whole 
court  rose  as  one  man.  The  Cadi  bounced  to  his 

262 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

feet,  mouthing,  gesticulating,  a-tremble  with  rage  and 
terror. 

"Dog!"  he  yelled.  "Be  silent,  madman! 
Pluck  his  tongue  out,  scourge  him,  flay  him !  Ho, 
you  soldiers!  Is  it  fear  holds  you  there  idle?  " 

At  the  taunt  a  dozen  soldiers  ran  and-  seized  on 
Hassan,  who  had  stood  his  ground  defiantly. 

Not  until  the  wretch  was  clearly  powerless  did 
Yusuf  Effendi  venture  to  meet  his  eyes.  The  effect  of 
that  glance  was  magical.  The  fat  and  sleepy  Cadi 
turned  a  maniac.  He  shrieked  and  shrieked  again,  in 
convulsions  as  if  his  robe  had  been  poisoned. 


263 


CHAPTER    XXIV 

"  THEY  are  impostors,  robbers,  murderers.  They 
shall  die,  every  one  of  them.  They  robbed  me — me, 
the  Cadi — of  the  moneys  I  had  collected  from  my 
lands.  Two  of  them.  Two  devils !  I  hold  one : 
where  is  his  brother?  Aha,  I  see  him.  He  skulks 
yonder.  Bring  forward  that  man  of  the  thick  beard 
— he  who  stoops  behind  the  tall  one.  Bring  him 
hither  to  beside  his  fellow.  Hold  fast  his  arms." 

Nesib,  the  Thief,  was  dragged  to  the  foot  of  the 
dais.  He  screamed  for  the  pain  such  rough  usage  in- 
flicted on  his  wounded  legs;  while  Ali,  withheld  from 
following  him,  screamed  yet  more  lustily.  When  the 
judge  stooped  down  and  deliberately  spat  in  his  face, 
Nesib's  screams  increased  to  a  very  death  shriek, 
which  was  echoed  of  Ali  in  the  crowd  behind. 

"  O  Allah !  O  crown  of  infamy !  He  bit  my 
wrist,  and  now  he  spits  on  me.  O  woe !  woe !  " 

Hassan  Agha,  subjected  to  the  same  insult,  only 
sneered  and  craved  the  freedom  of  one  hand  to  wipe 
his  face,  which  was  denied  him. 

Somewhat  allayed  by  this  ceremony,  the  wrath 
264 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

of  the  judge  put  on  the  garb  of  reason.  He  had  no 
longer  the  slightest  compunction  in  sentencing  those 
Muslims  to  a  shameful  death. 

"  In  the  name  of  Allah,  you  deserve  to  die,  all  of 
you.  For  not  one  misdeed,  but  a  thousand  are 
proved  against  you.  These  two  men  here  before  me, 
for  their  more  abominable  crimes,  shall  be  strangled 
and  left  unburied.  On  the  rest  of  you  I  have  mercy: 
they  will  be  shot.  Subject  to  the  will  of  the  Mutesar- 
rif,  our  Sultan's  shadow  on  this  land — whom  may 
Allah  preserve.  In  the  name  of  Allah,  gracious, 
compassionate,  it  is  decreed." 

At  that  went  up  a  bitter  cry  from  all  the  multi- 
tude, but  especially  from  those  inquisitives  who  for 
pastime  had  thrust  their  way  into  the  court.  In  hopes 
to  save  their  comrades  and  one  another,  Nesib  and 
Ali  each  yelled  his  confession  of  guilt.  But  the 
uproar  sufficed  to  drown  individual  voices.  Curses, 
lamentations,  prayers,  mingled  discordantly,  while 
the  soldiers  struck  here  and  there  at  the  noisiest,  fell- 
ing some  of  them  and  fetching  blood  from  mouths 
and  noses.  The  hall  of  judgment  wore  the  aspect 
of  a  shambles.  From  the  dais  beside  the  judge, 
the  plump  and  smiling  Christian  gloated  on  the 
scene. 

The  disorder  was  at  its  height  when  a  door  at  the 
265 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

back  of  the  hall  opened,  letting  in  a  ray  of  sunlight 
upon  the  hindmost  of  the  crowd. 

"  Shut  the  door,"  shrieked  the  Cadi,  in  sudden 
terror. 

Instantly  he  was  obeyed.  But  some  one  had  en- 
tered. The  soldiers,  saluting,  cleared  a  way  for  Abd- 
ur-Rahman  Bey  to  the  foot  of  the  dais. 

The  face  of  the  young  man  was  haggard  and 
hard  set.  At  glad  cries  of  his  own  name,  he  glanced 
this  way  and  that  unseeingly. 

"  Abd-ur-Rahman !  It  is  himself — Abd-ur-Rah- 
man.  O  son,  preserve  thy  father.  Save  thy  friends." 

He  stepped  upon  the  dais  and,  totally  disregard- 
ing the  cringe  of  the  consul's  dragoman,  addressed 
the  judge  without  a  compliment : 

"  What  is  this,  O  Effendi  ?  Why  these  cries  to  me 
for  help?  Surely  one  of  thy  discrimination  has  per- 
ceived that  these  men  are  guiltless  of  the  crime  im- 
puted to  them?  " 

"  By  what  right,  O  my  eyes,  dost  thou  use  this 
tone  with  me?  "  snapped  the  Cadi  angrily,  darting  an 
uneasy  glance  at  the  besetting  Nazarene.  '  These 
men  are  guilty  of  riot  and  bloodshed,  violent  robbery 
and  rebellion.  They  die,  and  their  doom  is  righteous. 
It  is  my  last  word." 

"  Then  it  is  a  bad  day  for  thee,  O  my  dear.  For 
266 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

know  that  among  these  men  is  my  father,  a  reverend 
and  most  learned  sheykh  of  the  religion,  whose  death 
all  Islam  will  deplore.  He  is,  moreover,  the  beloved 
brother  of  Milhem  Pasha  whose  power,  as  thou  know- 
est,  is  considerable.  And  further,  these  Circassians 
are  under  direct  protection  of  the  government,  as  can 
be  proved  by  a  reference  to  the  archives.  My  uncle 
Milhem  Pasha  knows  this  and  has  procured  renewal 
of  the  firman  concerning  them.  But  yesterday  he  in- 
.formed  me  in  writing  that  a  grant  of  new  rifles  will 
shortly  be  made  to  them,  and  in  the  same  letter 
named  them  his  friends.  Reflect  a  little,  I  entreat 
thee,  O  my  soul." 

The  confidence  of  Yusuf  staggered.  For  the  mo- 
ment he  knew  not  what  to  murmur,  where  to  look. 
The  chief  of  those  soldiers  who  herded  the  prisoners 
came  to  his  relief,  laughing: 

"  Believe  him  not,  Yusuf.  It  is  a  generous  lie  to 
save  these  poor  people  whom  he  knew  of  old.  And 
really,  in  thy  place,  I  would  spare  the  most  of  them. 
More  than  once  have  I  heard  him  deny  the  truth  of 
a  report  which  made  yon  old  man  his  father." 

"  Nay,  it  was  then  that  I  lied,"  cried  Abd-ur-Rah- 
man,  as  if  in  pain.  "  I  was  ashamed  of  one  so  poor 
in  seeming,  so  old-fashioned,  so  simply  pious.  So  I 
lied — mad  that  I  was ! — and  denied  my  father." 

267 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Then  wert  them  dirt,  a  thing  to  spit  on.  But 
praise  to  Allah,  I  believe  thee  not,"  said  the  officer, 
turning  on  his  heel. 

"  It  is  that,  thou  liest  to  save  them,"  said  the  Cadi, 
with  restored  confidence. 

Then  Abd-ur-Rahman  called  God  to  witness.  He 
threatened,  entreated,  reasoned,  all  in  vain. 

Still  "  It  is  hard  to  believe,"  shrugged  the  Cadi, 
smiling. 

''  The  men  are  already  condemned.  It  is  clearly 
proved  against  them,"  said  the  Nazarene,  at  his  ear, 
as  a  needed  reminder. 

"  Then  it  is  the  worse  for  thee,  O  Yusuf  Effendi," 
cried  Abd-ur-Rahman,  in  a  fury.  "  I  go  hence  to  the 
French  telegraph;  and  if  before  the  sun  sets,  the 
wrath  of  Milhem  Pasha  is  not  loosed  against  all 
the  Mutesarrifate  of  El  Cuds,  may  Allah  strike  me 
dead  this  minute." 

With  that  and  a  moan,  "O  my  father!"  he 
pushed  his  way  out.  Once  more  the  door  opened,  ad- 
mitting a  sunbeam,  then  closed  again.  A  hush  was 
on  the  seated  crowd.  The  Cadi  returned  to  his  beads 
for  countenance,  his  downcast  face  in  the  shadow  of 
a  great  perplexity.  The  cheerful  Christian  whispered 
at  his  ear: 

"  Had  that  old  man  been  in  truth  his  father, 
268 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

would  he  not  have  run  and  embraced  him?  Not  once 
did  he  look  toward  him,  for  I  observed  closely. 
Moreover,  this  sheykh  resembles  not  in  the  least  a 
man  learned  and  of  a  good  house." 

For  the  first  time  cordial  with  his  vile  associate, 
Yusuf  agreed. 

"  By  Allah,  the  right  is  with  thee.  But  who  is 
this  Milhem  Pasha?  His  name  is  known  to  me. 
What  is  his  exact  position  at  this  day?  " 

"  Who  knows  ?  Doubtless  he  is  a  pasha  like 
another.  Every  youth  cries  up  his  own  house." 

Still  the  Cadi  was  ill  at  ease.  He  dared  not  dis- 
miss the  prisoners  for  execution,  yet  had  nothing  more 
to  say  to  them,  having  given  sentence.  He  desired 
earnestly  to  be  rid  of  the  spy  at  his  side,  who  crippled 
him  with  a  sense  of  undesirable  publicity. 

Seeing  the  beast  yawn  and  look  sleepy,  he  begged 
him  with  all  customary  blessings  to  retire  and  seek 
repose.  The  trial  was  ended,  the  doom  pronounced. 
The  rest  consisted  in  a  few  formalities  unworthy 
of  his  assistance.  He  or  his  Excellency  the  consul 
could  come  after  sunset  to  the  Tower  to  see  the 
bodies. 

The  Christian  did  not  need  much  persuasion.  He 
had  fulfilled  the  commands  of  his  lord  and  was  very 
sleepy.  Yusuf  Effendi  bowed  low  with  a  profusion 
18  269 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

of  blessings,  which  changed  to  as  great  a  profusion 
of  curses  when  he  was  gone. 

To  refresh  his  wits,  he  then  bade  the  scribe  make 
coffee,  for  which  all  necessaries  were  at  hand.  He 
lighted  a  cigarette  and  smoked  it  pensively,  still  toy- 
ing with  his  chaplet.  The  prisoners,  thankful  for  a 
respite,  sat  in  groups  upon  the  floor,  exchanging 
cigarettes  with  their  guards,  smoking,  and  chatting 
together  very  peacefully.  Only  Shems-ud-din  kept 
aloof  with  Mas  the  negro.  He  missed  but  one  thing, 
to  grieve  for  it,  and  that  was  the  soiled  headgear  and 
old  striped  cloak  of  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas.  The  whole  suc- 
cession of  events  and  characters — judge  and  sentence, 
soldiers  and  prisoners,  the  coming  and  going  of  his 
only  son — made  but  a  speck  on  his  mind,  where  it 
floated  like  a  tiny  boat  that  frets  upon  a  great 
calm  sea. 

At  length,  after  two  cups  of  coffee,  Yusuf  whis- 
pered to  his  scribe : 

"  Write  to  the  Mutesarrif,  asking  of  what  rank, 
what  influence  is  Milhem  Pasha,  uncle  to  the  young 
Abd-ur-Rahman  ?  Add,  for  his  Excellency's  guid- 
ance, that  the  question  concerns  the  trial." 

The  note  dispatched,  he  sat  inactive,  looking 
down  at  his  beads,  till  came  the  answer: 

"  Since  two  days  he  is  Grand  Wazir;  I  have  the 
270 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

news  this  hour  from  a  private  source.  If  the  culprits 
are  under  his  protection,  kill  anyone  else  in  the  world, 
but  spare  them,  or  thou  art  ruined,  I  with  thee.  Let 
no  eye  behold  this  writing." 

All  things  swam  before  the  Cadi's  eyes.  Had 
Abd-ur-Rahman  spoken  truth,  he  was  indeed  in  a  nice 
dilemma. 


271 


CHAPTER    XXV 

SCOURGED  by  his  master's  mild  reproof  of  him 
for  loitering,  Zeyd  needed  no  second  reminder  to 
make  haste.  With  the  bounds  of  a  goat  he  scaled  the 
rocks  and  ran  along  by  the  foot  of  the  city  wall.  The 
noble  words  which  had  enthralled  him  to  forget  duty 
boomed  in  his  brain,  making  earth  heaven,  wrapping 
him  in  a  cloud  of  gorgeous  imagery.  As  he  neared 
the  gate,  a  band  of  soldiers  marched  out  silently,  at- 
tended by  a  little  horde  of  ragamuffin  Jews  and  Chris- 
tians. The  arrow  of  the  sheykh,  he  scarce  perceived 
them,  intent  only  upon  the  will  of  his  master,  to  do 
which  was  in  itself  a  rapture.  He  measured  not  his 
pace  on  such  an  errand,  and  it  was  with  surprise,  when 
nearing  the  house  of  the  Frank  physician,  that  he 
found  sweat  streaming  from  every  pore. 

He  knocked  thrice  before  anyone  answered,  and 
then  it  was  not  Ismail's  voice,  but  that  of  the  serving 
maid,  which  smote  his  ear: 

"  Who  is  there  ?    What  would  you  ?  " 

"  It  is  I,  Zeyd  ebn  Abbas,  having  an  errand  to  the 
khawajah." 

272 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  Art  thou  alone  out  there?  Is  it  sure  there  are 
none  beside  thee?  " 

"  By  Allah,  it  is  sure.  Who  else  on  earth  should 
there  be?" 

"  Then  enter  and  behold  the  work  of  thy  master. 
O  day  of  my  grief !  O  wicked  day !  .  .  .  The  hakim 
is  not  in  the  house.  It  is  now  two  hours  since  he  went 
forth.  Allah  grant  they  have  not  killed  him  also,  the 
wicked  ones !  " 

Thus  lamenting,  she  let  Zeyd  in.  He  dared  not, 
for  his  soul's  weal,  glance  at  her  unveiled  face.  Her 
sobs  and  reproaches  vexed  him.  They  called  for  re- 
tort, but  he  dared  not  parley  with  the  mistress  of  so 
great  attractions. 

"  Y'  Allah !  Come  and  see  what  thy  master  has 
done  for  us,  his  benefactors !  The  hakim  will  soon 
return,  in  sh'  Allah,  and  then  thou  shalt  hear  truth 
for  once  in  life.  It  is  two  hours  since  he  went  out 
to  the  house  of  the  consul.  Aha,  a  proper  vengeance 
shall  overtake  thee  and  thy  master  and  all  thy  race 
of  dogs!" 

She  dragged  him  through  into  the  court.  She  had 
the  strength  of  a  jinni.  Her  clutch  rent  his  clothing, 
which  had  been  ragged  enough  before.  Yet  he  dared 
not  offer  resistance  lest,  at  touch  of  her,  desire  should 
master  him. 

273 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

A  second  voice  of  woe  assailed  his  ears.  It  came 
from  the  shadowed  side  of  the  yard,  from  out  a  vault, 
of  which  the  door  stood  open. 

"  Go  in!  Look!  "  shrieked  his  conductor,  drag- 
ging him  to  that  doorway. 

Zeyd  strove  after  the  superior  smile  of  one  who 
humors  a  madwoman,  but  his  look  changed  quickly 
to  horror  and  his  hands  flew  up.  There,  within,  upon 
a  low  couch,  lay  the  form  of  Ismail  the  doorkeeper, 
stiff  in  death,  the  face  fixed  in  a  travesty  of  its  wonted 
kindly  grin.  The  brow  seemed  to  have  shrunk  away 
from  beneath  the  turban,  the  cheeks  had  sunken ;  the 
white  beard  seemed  a  growth  independent  of  the  chin 
it  fastened  on.  It  was  no  longer  the  man,  simple  yet 
so  wise,  whom  Zeyd  had  known  and  revered,  but 
something  derisive,  harsh,  and  terrible,  a  menace  and 
a  curse. 

Beside  the  corpse  lay  Fatmeh  on  her  face,  weep- 
ing bitterly.  The  girl  who  had  admitted  Zeyd  pushed 
past  him  and  kicked  the  prostrate  one  again  and 
again,  then,  kneeling,  beat  and  pinched  her  unmerci- 
fully, screaming: 

"  Weep !  Weep  !  By  the  Gospel,  I  will  make 
thee  weep,  O  cause  of  misfortune  to  the  house  that 
sheltered  thee.  Foul  daughter  of  a  Muslim,  weep 
louder,  louder!  Oh,  if  all  you  Muslimun  were  made 

274 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

on  the  pattern  of  him  who  lies  there,  then  earth  would 
be  a  different  place!  Cease  not  to  weep,  lest  I  tear 
thy  eyes." 

In  the  frenzy  of  her  spite,  she  had  forgotten  Zeyd. 
When  he  flung  her  back  by  main  force,  she  looked  on 
him  with  blind  eyes  a  moment.  Then  with  the  hiss 
of  an  angry  serpent  she  strove  to  scratch  his  eyes,  spit- 
ting venomously. 

"  May  Allah  blind  and  maim  thee !  All  shall  die 
— thou  and  thy  wicked  sheykh,  and  this  woman,  and, 
the  rest  of  you — all — all!  My  lord  went  to  the 
consul — the  consul,  hear  you?  And  the  end  of  all 
of  you  is  concerted,  if  not  accomplished.  .  .  .  Ah, 
devil !  What  wouldst  thou  ?  Let  go ;  let  go,  I  say ! 
O  Allah!  O  Blessed  Lord!" 

Anger  had  driven  from  Zeyd's  mind  every 
thought  of  goodness.  He  saw  only  the  charms  of  the 
woman,  remembered  only  her  brutality  to  Fatmeh, 
and  the  affronts  she  had  put  upon  himself.  With 
clenched  teeth  and  blazing  eyes,  he  was  working  to 
master  her  when  the  voice  of  the  Frank  called  with- 
out. In  the  same  minute  she  ceased  struggling  and 
he  let  go. 

Then,  too  late,  Zeyd  remembered  that  he  had 
come  on  an  errand  of  apology;  and  he  hung  his  head. 
Was  he  himself  any  better  than  the  Circassians? 

275 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Truly,  a  man  uninspired  was  no  more  master  of  his 
own  impulses  than  is  a  sword  in  a  strong  hand.  Crest- 
fallen and  ashamed,  Zeyd  went  and  humbled  himself 
before  the  physician.  He  tried  to  give  his  mes- 
sage. But  the  unbeliever  would  not  listen,  making 
moan  in  his  own  fashion,  which  was  not  that  of 
the  son  of  an  Arab,  with  gestures  and  a  bitter 
cry,  but  simply  a  sardonic  grinning  and  muttering, 
the  while  his  hands  trembled,  clasped  and  unclasped 
nervously. 

"  Begone!  Walk!  Go  out  of  my  house!  Have 
I  not  seen  enough  of  thee  and  thy  master  ?  A  good 
return — is  it  not? — for  all  I  did  for  the  girl.  He 
brings  the  city  against  me.  He  kills  my  doorkeeper, 
the  best  of  men.  He  shall  be  severely  punished,  word 
of  an  Englishman !  The  consul  says  so.  But  as  for 
me,  I  lose  my  appointment.  The  society  will  not 
retain  me  after  all  this.  I  have  to  thank  thy  master 
for  much- — very  much.  I  think  so  indeed.  He  is  a 
good  man,  not  so?  Excellent!  Ah,  ha,  ha !  .  .  . 
Speak  not !  Begone  !  Walk !  And  take  the  woman 
with  thee.  Let  me  see  the  end  of  all  of  you  !  " 

There  was  no  reasoning  with  a  creature  so 
plainly  distraught.  "  Begone !  "  he  kept  repeating, 
till  at  last  Zeyd  renounced  all  further  attempt  to 
pierce  his  understanding  and  said,  a  little  irritably: 

276 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  To  hear  is  to  obey." 

Zeyd  went  back  into  the  death  chamber,  mur- 
mured "  Peace  to  the  upright!  "  by  the  corpse  of  the 
kind  old  negro,  and  taking  Fatmeh  by  the  hand  raised 
her  and  led  her  forth.  By  the  outer  door  of  the  house 
stood  the  weeping  maidservant.  She  opened  for 
them  and,  as  they  passed  out,  struck  Fatmeh  such 
a  blow  beneath  the  shoulders  that  she  groaned  and 
fell  forward,  coughing  violently.  Zeyd  thought  her 
stabbed.  He  turned  to  take  vengeance,  but  the  door 
was  shut. 

Fatmeh  lay  upon  the  cobbles  of  the  narrow  lane, 
groaning  and  coughing  by  turns;  while  Zeyd  raised 
hands  of  denunciation  against  that  house  of  sin,  call- 
ing to  Allah  for  justice  upon  her  murderers.  No 
help,  no  human  form,  was  at  hand.  The  accustomed 
seat  of  the  sherbet  seller  was  empty. 

Soon,  however,  to  his  vast  relief,  Fatmeh  rose  up, 
expressing  her  readiness,  and  he  led  her  to  the  khan. 

It  was  the  heat  of  the  day  when  no  one  fares 
abroad  who  can  help  it.  Those  they  met  were  too 
indolent  to  take  note  of  the  tousled  raiment  of  a 
woman  or  the  mad  mutterings  of  a  man,  who  at  a 
glance  seemed  mere  beggars. 

On  arrival  at  the  khan  the  host  put  many  anxious 
questions  to  them  out  of  the  kindness  of  his  heart. 

277 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

He  was  more  than  repaid  by  the  thrill  of  Zeyd's 
narrative. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah!  "  he  exclaimed  at  the  end.  "  It 
is  not  good  to  frequent  unbelievers.  The  sheykh — 
dear,  righteous  man! — he  thought  no  evil — that  is 
known.  And  yet  it  was  not  good.  I  myself  could 
have  informed  him  harm  would  come  of  it." 

He  readily  undertook  to  lodge  Fatmeh  with  his 
own  women. 

While  they  yet  stood  talking  in  the  doorway,  an 
ass,  saddled  and  bridled,  was  led  out  from  the  adjoin- 
ing stable.  It  was  followed  by  an  aged  fellah,  who 
gave  a  coin  to  the  hostler.  The  fellah  then  bestrode 
the  beast,  groaning  like  a  camel  with  the  exertion. 
Zeyd,  recognizing  his  wife's  sister's  husband's  uncle, 
hailed  him  joyfully. 

"  I  cannot  stay.  I  have  waited  long  enough," 
muttered  the  donkey  rider,  in  agitation.  "  Allah 
knows  they  may  be  already  at  my  house,  clasping  my 
doorposts,  needing  my  protection.  I  am  old  and  have 
no  stomach  for  the  fray.  Yet  they  went  off  bravely, 
that  handful  against  a  whole  city.  I  was  proud  of 
their  friendship  though  I  slipped  away.  No  doubt 
but  that  they  have  slain  the  Frank  and  all  belonging 
to  him,  and  have  destroyed  his  house  with  fire.  They 
come  from  wilds  wherein  vengeance  is  a  sacred  right 

278 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

— as  it  should  be,  O  my  son — as  it  should  be.  They 
know  not  the  law  of  this  city  which  takes  no  count  of 
religious  motives.  They  will  flee  from  the  punish- 
ment to  my  house,  and  I  must  be  there  to  shield  them 
if  I  can." 

"Was  the  riot  then  so  serious,  O  my  uncle? 
They  spoke  of  it  as  a  jest." 

"  Hadst  thou  seen  their  faces,  heard  their  heart- 
some  shouts  as  I  did,  thou  wouldst  never  ask — '  was  it 
serious?  ' 

"  Alas,  for  their  wickedness.  Very  surely  they 
are  the  worst  of  men.  May  Allah  destroy  the  house 
of  every  one  of  them." 

The  fellah  contradicted  Zeyd  hotly:  "  Nay,  may 
Allah  prosper  them.  Art  thou,  then,  also  their  en- 
emy? Blessed  guests  have  they  been  to  our  village. 
The  fame  of  them  has  made  us  respected  in  all  the 
neighborhood.  They  are  good — the  best  possible — 
to  their  friends.  What  matter  though  they  be 
bad  to  their  enemies?  Can  all  men  use  the  same 
eyes?  May  Allah  preserve  them.  In  thy  grace, 
O  my  dear !  " 

Pressed  by  the  old  man's  heels,  the  donkey 
started,  its  shod  hoofs  waking  echoes  in  that  deep- 
walled  place. 

Zeyd  followed,  in  search  of  the  Sheykh  Shems- 
279 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ud-din,  for  whose  safety  he  grew  anxious.  Talking 
of  danger  and  punishment  had  brought  into  the  fore- 
ground of  his  remembrance  details  which  had  failed 
to  impress  him  at  the  time — in  particular,  the  com- 
pany of  soldiers  which  had  passed  him  by  the  city 
gate,  and  the  confusion  in  the  Frank's  mad  speech  of 
Shems-ud-dm  with  the  Circassians.  Apprehensions, 
spurred  by  indigestion  of  the  various  insults  he  had 
been  forced  to  stomach,  made  his  soul  groan  within 
him.  At  unawares  he  ran  instead  of  walked — a 
strange  sight  in  the  city  at  high  noon. 

At  length  he  stopped  to  inquire  of  a  group  of 
good  Muslims  standing  gossiping  before  a  cobbler's 
stall,  whether  anyone  had  seen  the  Sheykh  Shems-ud- 
din  and  his  unmistakable  adherents.  The  men  turned 
from  their  questioner  to  glance  meaningly  one  at 
another.  The  cobbler  it  was  who  answered. 

"W  Allah!"  he  exclaimed,  pausing,  needle  in 
air,  from  his  sewing  at  a  certain  slipper.  "  Go  and 
ask  at  the  Mehkemeh.  A  hundred  Muslimun  are 
shut  in  there,  and  they  say  the  English  consul  is  judg- 
ing them  in  place  of  our  rightful  Cadi.  Ah,  those 
Franks  are  devils.  There  is  no  end  to  their  enor- 
mities. And  our  lords,  who  suffer  them,  are  little 
better." 

Zeyd  stayed  to  hear  no  more.  He  ran  on,  pant- 
280 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

ing,  with  misty  eyes.  Upon  the  fastened  door  of  the 
courthouse  a  crowd  pressed,  enjoying  a  grievous  out- 
cry from  within. 

"  Ha,  they  beat  the  malefactors.  That  is  good," 
said  a  Nazarene  to  his  neighbor.  "  He  knows  his 
business,  this  English  consul." 

Zeyd  thundered  in  vain  at  the  door.  None 
opened,  and  the  crowd  jeered  at  him.  With  heart 
near  to  breaking,  he  gave  up  the  attempt  and  ran 
headlong  toward  the  Haram.  A  great  pulse  throbbed 
in  his  brain,  seeming  the  pulse  of  the  whole  world, 
for  every  object  of  his  gaze  beat  with  it. 

The  aged  Mahmud  Ali,  Chief  of  the  Learned  in 
the  Holy  City,  was  coming  out  of  the  Mosque  El 
Aksa  on  the  arm  of  a  young  disciple — his  senile  blind- 
ness doubled  for  the  moment  by  the  sudden  sunlight 
dropped  on  him  like  a  dazzling  veil — when  Zeyd,  the 
son  of  Abbas,  fell  groveling  at  his  feet. 

'  Who  is  it,  O  my  son?  "  quavered  the  sheykh, 
much  alarmed ;  for  he  could  not  discern  the  form  of 
the  suppliant  whether  of  man  or  beast. 

"  It  is  some  mad  derwish,"  replied  the  lad  sup- 
porting him. 

"  Nay,  it  is  I,  Zeyd,  the  servant  of  the  Sheykh 
Shems-ud-din.  Mad  am  I  now,  and  with  reason,  for 
they  kill  my  master." 

281 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  O  Allah,  is  it  possible?  Expound  the  matter, 
O  most  faithful  of  servants." 

The  old  man  heard  the  story  sadly  to  an  end. 
Then  he  bade  his  disciple  lead  him  beneath  some  trees 
which  grew  by  the  place  of  washing.  There,  in  the 
shade,  he  sat  down  and,  taking  an  inkhorn,  a  reed,  and 
a  leaf  from  his  girdle,  wrote  hurriedly. 

"  Here  is  a  word  from  me  to  the  Cadi,"  he  said 
to  Zeyd.  "  This  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  had  to 
rebuke  the  slaves  of  this  Mutesarrif.  They  plead, 
and  with  a  measure  of  justice,  that  it  is  hard  for  few 
to  govern  many  without  indulging  the  majority. 
None  the  less  it  is  iniquitous.  I  here  threaten  him 
with  the  curse  of  El  Islam.  I  adjure  him  by  his 
father's  grave.  His  father  was  a  good  old  man,  a 
friend  to  me.  If  he  remember  not  his  father,  then  is 
he  rightly  accursed." 

Armed  with  that  writing,  Zeyd  sped  across  the 
honored  pavement  to  where  his  slippers  lay  beside  the 
steps;  and  thence  to  the  Mehkemeh,  where  he  arrived 
bathed  in  sweat,  and  mouthing  oddly — a  maniac  to 
all  appearance.  The  crowd,  now  much  diminished, 
withdrew  from  him  in  alarm.  His  knocks  on  the 
massive  door  reverberated  as  though  the  hall  within 
had  been  as  empty  as  it  was  silent. 

"  Open,  O  sons  of  Eblis.  In  the  name  of  Allah. 
282 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

In  the  name  of  El  Islam,  open,  or  it  shall  be  the  worse 
for  you."  Zeyd  knew  not  what  he  cried.  He  had 
forgotten  dignities.  What  mattered  anything?  Jt 
was  the  Last  Day. 

At  that  high  call,  the  door  was  opened  a  little. 
Its  keepers,  expecting  to  behold  some  functionary, 
gaped  on  the  vision  of  a  sweat-blind  vagrant.  By 
allowance  of  their  stupor  the  wretch  shot  past  them 
into  the  court. 

'  Who  is  this?  What  means  this?  "  cried  a  voice 
of  anger.  Zeyd  was  aware  confusedly  of  men  innu- 
merable rising  from  the  ground  with  shouts  and  harsh 
laughter.  In  that  peopled  dimness  he  faltered,  dazed 
and  abashed.  He  heard  the  voice  of  the  enemy,  the 
voice  of  Hassan  Agha,  calling: 

"  Behold  the  grace  of  Allah.  It  is  he,  the  mur- 
derer, the  rightful  victim,  brought  to  us  by  a  miracle. 
O  Excellency,  slay  that  wicked  man  and  spare  us." 

Then,  of  a  sudden,  he  espied  the  Sheykh  Shems- 
ud-din,  and  it  was  as  if  a  light  shone  upon  him  sud- 
denly. With  a  glad  cry  he  was  going  toward  his 
master  when  strong  arms  seized  and  carried  him, 
kicking,  before  the  judge. 

"  Praise  be  to  Allah !  We  have  here  the  culprit 
— not  a  doubt  of  it.  We  will  soon  extract  his  con- 
fession," sighed  Yusuf  Effendi,  with  immense  relief. 

283 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

u  No;  I  say  no.  Allah  forbid  so  great  a  sin.  He 
is  a  good  poor  man,  who  never  wronged  anyone,  my 
friend  these  many  days.  For  my  sake  came  he  to  this 
city,  mistress  of  wickedness;  and  if  he  have  sinned 
herein,  the  blame  is  mine.  Let  me  die  and  save  him." 

Shems-ud-din  stood  between  Yusuf  Effendi  and 
the  helpless  Zeyd,  confronting  the  former  in  a  posture 
not  of  suppliance.  The  Cadi  frowned,  while  his  eyes 
shifted  nervously  from  side  to  side,  then  settled  on  his 
string  of  beads. 

"  Art  possessed,  old  man?  "  he  remonstrated,  in 
a  whisper.  "  Seest  thou  not  it  is  thy  chance  to  escape? 
Some  one  must  die.  Let  it  be  this  dog,  who  is  cer- 
tainly not  good.  It  is  impossible  thou  canst  know 
him,  call  him  friend.  Look  once  more  on  him,  I  en- 
treat thee,  what  a  vile  face  is  there !  Thou  wast  de- 
ceived at  the  first,  the  hall  is  dim.  It  is  not  thy  friend, 
but  a  villain  undeserving  of  compassion.  Let  him 
take  his  wages." 

"  If  he  dies,  I  die  with  him.  He  is  my  friend, 
my  faithful  follower.  See,  he  holds  a  paper  crumpled 

284 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

in  his  hand.  It  may  be  a  writing  of  importance  to  us. 
Let  it  be  read,  O  Excellency.  Doubtless  it  shall  ex- 
plain his  presence  here." 

"  So  be  it;  but  we  waste  time,"  said  the  Cadi  fret- 
fully. "  I  grudge  every  minute  lest  by  ill-hap  that 
Nazarene  should  return  and  end  my  power  to  be- 
friend you." 

A  soldier  disengaged  the  paper  from  Zeyd's 
hand,  and  passed  it  to  the  judge  with  a  reverence. 
Yusuf  Effendi  read  it  and  turned  to  stone.  His  eyes 
bolted  from  their  sockets.  Then  he  made  the  gesture 
of  throwing  dust  on  his  head,  of  rending  his  clothes, 
and  bemoaned  the  day  he  was  born. 

"  O  Allah,  what  can  be  done?  O  Allah,  pity  me. 
Let  the  man  go,  you  soldiers.  It  is  an  envoy  from 
the  illustrious  Mahmud  Ali.  O  Lord  of  mercy,  what 
shall  I  do,  whom  slay?  O  Almighty,  appoint  me 
some  victim  quickly,  for  the  pig  may  return  who  cares 
not  though  I  perish,  my  lord  with  me.  Oh,  Allah ! 
Allah!" 

He  glanced  wildly  round  him,  as  though  expect- 
ing his  prey,  new-created,  to  drop  from  heaven. 
Then  he  hid  his  face  in  his  hands  and  wept  before 
all  men  there. 

His  scribe,  with  intent  to  console  him,  set  to  work 
to  make  fresh  coffee. 

19  285 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

While  Yusuf  remained  thus,  rocked  with  grief; 
while  the  scribe  and  a  humbler  attendant  were  busy 
about  the  little  brazier,  and  the  fragrance  of  coffee 
stewing  caused  the  prisoners  and  their  guards  to  lick 
envious  lips,  the  door  of  the  hall  opened  once  again. 
Yusuf  groaned  and  his  face  puckered  with  the  peevish 
desperation  of  a  child.  He  supposed  it  was  the  Chris- 
tian pig,  returned  to  ruin  him. 

"  Take,  read,  O  Yusuf,"  cried  a  voice  of  triumph; 
when,  looking  up  in  surprise,  the  judge  beheld  Abd- 
ur-Rahman  Bey.  Still  sobbing,  he  received  a  flimsy 
slip  of  paper,  only  to  return  it  with  a  moan : 

"  It  is  in  Prankish  character,  I  cannot  read  it." 

"  If  my  lord  the  Bey  will  deign  to  pass  it  to 
me,  with  the  Cadi's  leave,  I  can  perhaps  decipher  it," 
said  the  scribe,  once  more  at  his  post. 

The  scribe  read,  and  recognized  the  words  for 
Arabic.  He  quickly  transliterated,  and  handed  his 
copy  to  the  judge. 

"  Ma  sh'  Allah !  O  Allah,  mercy !  Have  com- 
passion !  In  what  have  I  sinned  that  such  woes  are 
stacked  upon  me?  I  am  robbed,  and  may  not  take 
vengeance;  I  give  judgment,  and  must  reverse  my 
judgment.  And  all  that  is  not  enough.  I  myself  am 
doomed  to  ruin  by  the  Grand  Wazir.  On  one  hand, 
the  Grand  Wazir;  on  the  other,  the  Powers  of 

286 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

Europe.  What  am  I  to  do,  whom  obey?  Some  one 
must  die  or  I  am  ruined.  Yet  all  these  must  go  free, 
or  I  die.  What  matter  in  the  end?  Let  me  die,  since 
it  is  so  decreed." 

"  Calm  yourself,  O  my  dear  Yusuf,"  whispered 
Abd-ur-Rahman  at  his  ear.  "  Thy  plight  is  by  no 
means  desperate.  I  see  many  in  this  court  who  are 
nothing  to  my  uncle — inquisitives  of  the  city  who  have 
pushed  in  somehow.  Punish  a  few  of  them  and  all 
is  said." 

"  But  .  .  .  O  Lord !  ...  is  it  not  the  hour  of 
sunset?  And  the  consul  enjoined,  '  ere  sunset.'  ' 

'  Take  comfort.  There  is  yet  half  an  hour.  Let 
me  indicate  the  men  to  thee.  Those  four  by  the  door 
will  do.  They  serve  no  purpose  in  the  world.  I  have 
seen  them  often  in  the  streets,  and  know  their  kind. 
Act  at  once  and  secretly.  Let  not  my  father  guess  thy 
purpose.  Nay,  on  second  thoughts,  what  need  to  act 
at  all  in  person?  I  myself  will  bid  the  soldiers  hale 
them  forth  to  execution ;  and  do  thou  meanwhile  make 
thy  peace  with  my  father  and  all  these  his  com- 
panions/' 

"  May  Allah  reward  thee,  O  child  of  my  soul. 
Thy  wit  has  saved  my  honor."  In  the  fullness  of  his 
heart  the  judge  embraced  Abd-ur-Rahman,  and 
kissed  him  on  both  cheeks.  "  One  other  favor  I  must 

287 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

beg  of  thee :  let  some  one  seek  out  the  chancellor  of 
the  English  consulate,  that  he  may  see  the  corpses. 
Bid  him  ask  if  it  is  the  consul's  desire  that  their  heads 
be  severed  and  set  up  in  some  public  place  for  an 
example  to  other  malefactors." 

No  sooner  had  Abd-ur-Rahman  left  his  side  than 
the  Cadi  stepped  down  off  the  dais.  Approaching 
the  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din,  he  strove  to  kiss  his  hand, 
craving  pardon  for  the  indignities  heaped  in  error  on 
one  so  illustrious.  His  urbanity  fully  restored,  he 
talked  and  joked  lightly  with  the  prisoners,  calling 
them  his  children,  his  soul's  dear  ones,  smiling  lov- 
ingly upon  each  and  all  of  them,  even  upon  his  two 
robbers.  Loud  swelled  their  praise  of  his  magnan- 
imity, and  many  were  the  coins  thrust  into  the  hand 
which  he  held  for  convenience'  sake  behind  his  back. 
The  Sheykh  Shems-ud-din  blessed  him,  and  made  him 
a  present  on  account  of  Zeyd.  With  pious  eyes,  Yusuf 
Effendi  thanked  God  for  his  mercies,  and  repeatedly 
exclaimed : 

"O  lucky  day!" 

At  length  Abd-ur-Rahman  came  back  to  him  and 
whispered: 

"  It  is  finished." 

'  The  praise  to  Allah.  You  are  released,  all  of 
you;  your  arms  are  restored,"  cried  the  Cadi,  with 

288 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

bounteous  gestures.  "Sin  no  more,  I  beseech  you; 
but  go  your  ways  in  peace." 

"  In  this  hour  we  shall  set  out  for  our  own  place," 
said  Hassan  Agha,  when  the  storm  of  blessings  had 
subsided.  He  with  Shibli  took  a  penitent  leave  of  the 
Sheykh  Shems-ud-din,  who  would  not  be  prevailed  on 
to  accompany  them. 

The  court  then  emptied  apace. 

Yusuf  bowed  low  before  Shems-ud-din,  who,  at- 
tended by  Mas  and  Zeyd,  yet  lingered  in  the  darken- 
ing hall.  He  besought  him : 

"  Deign,  O  my  lord,  to  write  a  little — a  mere  word 
— to  the  brother  of  thy  Grace,  to  the  august  Milhem 
Pasha,  Pillar  of  the  Throne,  that  he  may  know  I  have 
done  his  bidding  against  all  opponents.  Write,  I 
pray  thee,  that  I  would  do  aught  imaginable  to  oblige 
his  noble  Excellency,  that  I  am  the  humblest  of  his 
servants,  that  I  kiss  the  earth  between  his  two  feet. 
.  .  .  O  Nasr,  bring  paper,  ink,  and  a  sound  reed, 
hither  to  our  lord.  Deign  to  sit  down.  Ennoble  my 
name,  which  is  Yusuf  Effendi,  son  to  Muhammed 
Effendi,  who  was  formerly  Mufti  in  this  city.  May 
Allah  Most  High  reward  the  affability  of  your 
Mighty  Reverence.  My  house  is  thy  house.  Truly, 
now  is  my  soul  between  thy  two  hands." 

Shems-ud-din  wrote  as  requested,  and  handed  the 
289 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

piper  to  the  judge,  who  passed  it  on  to  the  scribe,  who 
made  a  letter  of  it  ready  for  transmission  through 
the  post. 

Abd-ur-Rahman  stood  afar  off  by  the  wall,  lurk- 
ing in  the  background,  a  shadow  among  shadows. 


290 


CHAPTER    XXVII 

OUTSIDE  the  hall  of  judgment  it  was  dusk  in  the 
streets.  Men  wending  homeward  from  the  place  of 
business  hurried  past,  a  dwindling  stream.  Their  lan- 
terns, shining  with  confined  rays,  appeared  set  in  the 
first  rich  bloom  of  night  like  the  eyes  in  a  peacock's 
tail.  Shems-ud-din  desired  no  lantern  to  guide  his 
steps.  The  dogs  beginning  to  prowl  after  offal  might 
snarl  at  his  disturbance,  he  feared  not  their  spite;  he 
cared  for  nothing  earthly.  Through  a  gap  in  the 
hard  black  roofs,  the  flowers  of  heaven  shone  in  their 
pleasant  field.  He  did  not  observe  them,  all  desire 
of  the  eyes,  all  lust  of  contemplation  having  rest 
within  him. 

Of  a  sudden,  in  a  quiet  place,  Zeyd  plucked 
his  robe. 

"  Haste,  O  my  master;  the  soldiers  follow  us!  " 

"  Hist!  "  whispered  Mas  from  the  background. 
"  Be  silent,  blockhead !  It  is  his  son  who  follows." 

Zeyd  and  Mas  together  shrank  away  into  the 
darkness. 

Confused  by  the  touch  of  Zeyd,  by  words  which 
291 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

had  failed  to  pierce  his  sad  abstraction,  and  yet  more 
by  the  vanishing  of  the  disturbers  ere  he  could  ask 
what  ailed  them,  Shems-ud-din  stood  still,  as  they  had 
left  him,  looking  back. 

A  tall  shape  grew  out  of  the  darkness.  It  loomed 
swiftly  upon  him.  He  heard  a  sobbing,  felt  his  robe 
caught  fast  in  a  clutch  of  despair. 

"  Forsake  me  not,  O  my  father!  " 

It  was  the  voice  of  Abd-ur-Rahman,  the  one  voice 
in  all  the  world  of  power  to  strike  him.  Folding  his 
son  to  his  breast,  the  old  man  lifted  up  his  voice 
and  wept. 

"  Ah,  have  mercy,  O  my  father  I  Go  not  now  to 
the  khan,  but  turn  aside  into  this  entry  till  I  bare  my 
soul  to  thee." 

"  Is  it  worth  the  while,  O  beloved?  Do  I  not 
know  already?  "  said  Shems-ud-din;  but  his  son's  will 
constrained  him. 

In  a  gloom  so  profound  that  the  night  they  had 
left  without  seemed  a  brightness  by  comparison,  Abd- 
ur-Rahman  fell  at  his  father's  feet.  When  the  sheykh 
strove  to  raise  him,  he  uttered  cries  of  pain. 

"  Let  be,  O  my  father !  First  hear  me  to  an  end. 
When  I  left  thee  to  go  to  my  uncle,  I  was  the  child 
of  thy  training;  I  knew  no  law  but  that  God  sent, 
in  which  thou  hadst  instructed  me ;  I  thought  that  all 

292 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

who  call  themselves  Muslimun  deferred  to  that  law 
in  conscience  as  in  form.  But  when  I  came  to  Istan- 
bul, and  beheld  the  grandeur  of  that  city,  with  its 
wealth  and  luxury,  my  soul  doubted,  and  I  looked  two 
ways;  for  things  I  had  reckoned  sinful  were  there 
done  openly  in  the  daylight,  while  men  of  ripe  years 
and  superior  judgment  smiled  at  my  careful  observ- 
ances and  scruples  against  the  use  of  this  and  that. 
After  a  little,  thy  likeness  faded  from  my  remem- 
brance; thy  maxims  sounded  faint  amid  the  voices 
near  me. 

'  The  precepts  of  my  uncle  Milhem  were  not 
what  thine  had  been.  He  is  a  good  man  in  his  fash- 
ion, and  was  very  kind  to  me.  His  wisdom,  his  wit 
in  talk,  compelled  my  admiration.  The  high  au- 
thority I  saw  him  wield  enforced  respect.  Moreover, 
having  no  son  of  his  own  body,  he  used  me  as  the 
apple  of  his  eye.  He  gave  me  money  for  my  pleas- 
ures, more  than  I  had  ever  seen  in  all  my  life.  He 
chose  for  me  companions,  Turks,  the  sons  of  good 
houses,  in  whose  society  I  ate  and  drank  of  abomi- 
nation." 

Here  a  burst  of  sobbing  broke  the  narrative. 
Abd-ur-Rahman  had  felt  his  father's  hand  touch 
his  brow. 

'  Yet  for  that  my  uncle  was  not  angry.     He  only 

293 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

laughed,  when  I  confessed  to  him,  and  bade  me  have 
a  care  for  my  health.  He  himself  was  my  tutor  in 
the  science  of  statecraft,  of  which  he  is  the  greatest 
master.  From  him  I  learnt  to  separate  faith  and  be- 
havior, the  rules  of  government  and  those  from  Allah 
Most  High.  He  placed  me  for  a  while  at  the  cus- 
tomhouse, and  when  I  had  there  learnt  all  that  he 
wished  me  to  learn  from  the  conduct  of  the  officials, 
he  brought  me  into  the  employment  of  a  certain  wazir, 
his  friend.  Everywhere  I  saw  the  needy  turned  awray, 
while  he  who  owned  fine  clothes  and  brought  a  gift 
in  his  hand  secured  an  audience.  Hence  I  contracted 
a  loathing  for  the  poor  and  miserable,  and  would 
never  be  seen  in  the  company  of  a  man  ill-clad. 

"  From  the  closet  of  that  wazir  I  passed  to  the 
military  service,  in  which  I  served  but  two  months 
before  the  influence  of  my  uncle  procured  my  ap- 
pointment to  this  garrison  as  a  yezbashi.  At  the  same 
time  I  received  from  the  bounty  of  our  Sultan  the 
style  and  dignity  of  Bey. 

"  In  the  parting  audience  my  uncle  informed  me 
that  he  would  no  longer  push  my  fortunes  so  openly, 
for  fear  of  jealousies,  but  that  I  must  make  my  own 
way  on  from  the  start  he  had  given  me.  He  would 
make  me  an  allowance  of  money,  which  he  named 
and  I  thought  most  handsome.  Then  came  his  last 

294 


word  of  advice.  It  was  to  associate  only  with  those 
who  could  further  my  career.  He  said,  laughing, 
that  he  was  afraid  lest  my  father's  son  should  waste 
time  in  the  profitless  frequentation  of  learned  mad- 
men, in  relieving  the  wants  of  scabby  beggars,  who 
said  never  '  The  Lord  reward  thee.'  He  need  not 
have  thus  adjured  me,  for  already  I  was  the  son  of 
his  teaching. 

"  So  it  came  to  pass,  O  my  father,  that  when  I 
came  to  this  city,  and  found  myself  a  personage 
courted  and  admired,  I  forbore  to  think  on  the  little 
place  of  my  birth,  or  on  the  friends  of  my  youth,  but 
made  all  my  endeavor  to  appear  the  greatest  possible, 
vaunting  my  high  lineage  and  powerful  connections. 
I  sent  no  word  unto  thee,  O  my  father,  nor  let  anyone 
suspect  thy  presence  upon  earth.  I  even  told  a  com- 
rade, who  inquired  of  me  somewhat  straitly,  that  I 
was  an  orphan,  and  that  my  father  had  been  a  great 
statesman  on  the  pattern  of  my  uncle  Milhem." 

A  deep  groan  from  the  mouth  of  the  passage 
caused  Abd-ur-Rahman  to  cease  speaking  and  start 
to  his  feet. 

"  Some  one  listens.  May  his  house  be  de- 
stroyed !  " 

"Who  is  out  there?"  called  Shems-ud-din ;  and 
the  voice  of  Zeyd  made  answer: 

295 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  It  is  I,  O  my  master,  and  with  me  Mas  the 
black." 

"  O  insolence !  May  their  fathers  perish !  "  cried 
Abd-ur-Rahman. 

"  Nay,  curse  them  not,  my  son.  They  are  folk 
of  our  own  house.  In  my  distress,  when  thou  and 
Shibli  and  all  others  left  me,  this  Zeyd  wras  hands  and 
feet  and  ears  and  eyes  to  me.  Mas  thou  knowest  of 
old;  I  have  no  need  to  tell  thee  who  he  is.  Continue, 
O  my  soul!  " 

"  When  I  received  the  letter  warning  of  thy  com- 
ing, which  reached  me  in  the  same  hour  when  thou 
shouldst  arrive,  I  knew  not  what  countenance  to 
adopt.  Indeed  my  surprise  was  great,  for  I  had  not 
written  to  thee,  and  who,  I  wondered,  could  have  in- 
formed thee  of  my  existence  in  El  Cuds?  One  half 
of  me  yearned  for  thy  blessing,  while  the  other  hnng 
back  for  fear  lest  by  thy  means  some  of  my  preten- 
sions should  be  belied. 

"  When  I  beheld  thee  riding  in  so  strange-looking 
a  company,  when  I  found  thee  resolute  to  pursue 
thy  dealings  with  the  Frank  physician,  I  determined 
thenceforth  to  visit  thee  only  in  secret,  and  to  refute 
every  rumor  of  our  relationship  which  might  get 
abroad.  Thanks  to  the  garrulity  of  Hassan  Agha,  I 
was  driven  thrice  to  contradict  that  kind  of  rumor." 

296 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

The  narrator  paused,  sobbing.  Again  a  hollow 
groan  from  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  made  him  wince. 
But  he  soon  recovered  enough  force  to  proceed  in  a 
broken  voice: 

"  O  my  father,  what  is  left  to  tell?  Thou  know- 
est  the  end  of  the  story,  how  the  shock  of  thy  captiv- 
ity drove  out  the  devil  which  had  so  long  possessed 
me;  how  I  strove,  tardily,  to  repair  my  fault.  Now 
see,  I  am  the  dust  before  thee.  My  companions,  for 
whose  sake  I  sinned,  now  turn  from  me  with  sneers 
and  cutting  taunts.  I  am  become  unclean  in  their 
sight. 

"  And  now,  O  my  father,  learn  my  firm  resolve. 
I  will  at  once  resign  my  high  position  and  the  favor 
of  my  uncle,  and  return  with  thee  to  our  little  town 
in  the  wilds,  there  to  end  my  days  in  thy  peace  and  in 
the  way  of  the  upright." 

"God  is  Most  Great!  God  is  Most  Merciful! 
Unto  God  the  praise  !  "  cried  Mas  and  Zeyd  together 
from  the  night  without. 

"  I  approve  not  at  all,"  said  Shems-ud-din  gently, 
yet  with  decision,  "unless  on  one  condition:  that 
thou  remain  first  a  full  three  months  at  thy  post.  If, 
when  that  term  shall  have  expired,  thy  desire  be  not 
altered,  then  come  to  us;  and  may  Allah  grant  thee 
of  His  blessings  !  " 

297 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  But  .  .  .  O  Lord!  "  moaned  Abd-ur-Rahman, 
in  anguish.  "  My  companions — all  my  acquaintance 
spurn  me.  How  can  I  endure  for  three  months  the 
scorn  of  all  around  me?  " 

"  The  scorn  will  not  long  survive  its  cause.  And 
if  some  things  I  have  heard  are  true,  thou  art  not  all 
contemptible,  my  son.  Thou  art  called  a  zealous,  a 
competent,  and  a  clever  officer;  and,  moreover,  I  hear 
it  said  that  thou  alone  of  all  thy  kind  hast  been  known 
to  refuse  a  bribe." 

"  The  praise  in  that  is  not  mine.  It  belongs, 
under  Allah,  to  my  uncle  Milhem,  who  keeps  me  so 
well  provided  that  I  require  not  the  gifts  of  any  man. 
But,  O  my  father!  ask  me  not  to  endure  for  three 
months  the  sneer  of  my  companions." 

"  I  ask  no  less,  my  son.  Be  brave,  O  beloved ! 
Consent  to  reap  the  harvest  of  thy  sin ;  so  shall  it  be 
expiated  before  Allah,  whose  wrath  is  more  to  be 
feared  than  my  pain  or  the  looks  of  thy  companions. 
To-morrow  thou  wilt  present  me  to  the  Mutesarrif, 
to  the  Chief  of  the  Soldiers,  and  to  all  thy  friends; 
and  I  shall  contrive  to  let  fall  a  word  or  two  to  lighten 
thy  offense.  Fear  not  that  I  shall  bring  shame  or  ridi- 
cule upon  thee.  My  speech  is  not  that  of  the  fellah 
or  the  muleteer.  Afterwards  I,  in  my  turn,  will  pre- 
sent thee  to  the  Chief  of  the  Learned,  whose  blessing 

298 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

shall  sustain  thee  through  the  trial.  Thy  mistake  has 
been  always  to  shun  the  society  of  the  devout  and 
studious.  It  is  the  mistake  of  my  brother  Milhem. 
.  .  .  Now  walk  with  me  to  the  khan." 

"Nay,  I  beseech  thee!  I  have  wept  much;  I 
would  avoid  the  stare  of  strangers." 

"  I  say  not,  enter  with  me;  but  bear  me  company 
as  far  as  to  the  door." 

The  street  seemed  light  as  they  came  forth  to  it. 
Great  stars  throbbed  overhead  in  a  tranquil  sky,  but 
the  grudging  house  shapes  and  frequent  arches  al- 
lowed but  a  glimpse  of  them.  Mas  stalked  in  front 
and  Zeyd  behind,  to  kick  off  the  dogs  which  soon 
formed  a  barking  phalanx  in  their  wake.  Shems-ud- 
din  held  his  son's  hand  in  a  tight  clasp.  At  the  en- 
trance of  the  khan,  he  embraced  him  and  let  him  go. 

Then,  having  watched  him  depart,  he  caused 
Mas  to  fetch  a  lantern  and  light  him  up  a  dark  and 
broken  stair  to  the  roof  of  the  hostelry,  whence  he 
could  view  the  perfect  flower  of  night  and  drink  its 
fragrance. 

The  city  slept  around  him.  Except  for  light  here 
and  there  in  some  upper  chamber,  for  the  shapen 
Dome  of  the  Rock  and  a  few  minarets,  he  might  have 
thought  it  an  outcrop  of  black  rock  on  the  face  of  the 
hills.  Far  away  to  the  eastward,  across  a  gulf,  ap- 

299 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

peared  the  rampart  of  his  own  land,  vague  and 
dreamy  beneath  the  stars. 

Peace  fell  about  him  like  a  pleasant  rain.  To- 
morrow he  would  go  hand  in  hand  with  his  long-lost 
son.  To-morrow,  for  the  last  time,  he  would  visit 
the  grave  of  Alia.  To-morrow,  ere  the  sunset,  he 
would  take  leave  of  the  wicked  city  never  to  return. 
If  Allah  willed. 

Alia  was  dead,  his  blindness  gone.  Once  more 
he  could  see  clearly  the  right  way.  Once  more  he 
enjoyed  access  to  the  mercy  of  the  Most  High. 


300 


CHAPTER    XXVIII 

THE  year's  last  rain  had  fallen  and  the  power  of 
the  summer  sun  was  fresh  on  all  the  land.  With 
thanks  to  Allah,  the  little  party  of  travelers  ap- 
proached the  region  of  great  trees  in  the  highland  be- 
yond Es-Salt.  Mas,  walking  beside  the  litter  which 
contained  Fatmeh,  wiped  his  face  with  his  hand  re- 
peatedly and  shook  off  the  drops  thus  reaped  upon  the 
ground. 

"  It  is  hot,  O  mother  of  stale  delights,"  he  ob- 
served friendly.  "  How  fares  it  with  thee  inside 
there?" 

"  I  stifle — I  expire,"  moaned  Fatmeh. 

'  Take  heart,  O  waning  moon !  The  shade  is 
at  hand.  Already  I  can  see  one  butm  tree — a 
black  head  like  mine  above  the  hill.  But  shade 
is  the  parent  of  flies,  winged  devils.  Mules  stung 
by  them  wax  restless.  Thy  charms  will  be  sorely 
shaken." 

"O  Lord,  have  mercy!  Am  I  not  dead  al- 
ready?" 

Mas  grinned  and  brought  his  goad  to  bear  upon 
20  301 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

the  leading  mule,  which  had  stopped  in  a  vain  en- 
deavor to  bite  its  flank. 

They  were  engaged  in  climbing  the  brow  of  a 
ridge  by  a  path  embarrassed  with  loose  stones  and 
occasional  smooth  rocks,  treacherous  to  the  hoofs. 
Shems-ud-din  led  the  way  upon  his  old  white  horse, 
whose  tail  kept  swishing.  He  was  followed  by  Zeyd, 
the  son  of  Abbas,  a  deplorable  figure  surmount- 
ing the  last  of  asses.  At  the  crown  of  the  ascent 
the  sheykh  drew  rein,  allowing  Zeyd  to  come  up 
beside  him. 

"Praise  to  Allah!"  he  exclaimed,  with  hand 
shading  his  eyes. 

Before  them  upon  the  sun-bleached  slopes  grew 
many  trees,  of  dark  foliage  which  looked  rusty  as 
compared  with  its  own  rich  shadow. 

"  Praise  to  Allah !  "  echoed  Zeyd,  and  therewith 
groaned,  for  the  hour  of  parting  was  come. 

At  the  foremost  knot  of  trees  a  halt  was  made; 
the  litter  was  set  down,  and  the  beasts  took  their  ease 
in  battle  with  the  flies.  Fatmeh  stepped  forth  from 
her  prison,  strictly  veiled,  and  sat  down  on  the  far- 
ther side  of  the  trunks  from  that  where  her  lord 
reclined.  Zeyd  lay  down  before  the  sheykh  and 
ground  his  forehead  in  the  mast  from  those  trees. 
He  wept: 

302 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  O  dear  lord!  All  my  life  shall  I  thank  Allah 
for  the  memory  of  thee.  Hereafter,  when  thou  art 
dead  and  thy  remains  are  covered  with  a  white  tomb, 
a  wely  where  good  men  pause  to  pray,  Zeyd  will  be 
thy  pilgrim  yearly.  Now,  after  an  hour  or  two,  if 
God  will,  I  shall  see  again  my  own  house,  my  woman, 
and  all  belonging  to  me.  By  means  of  this  ass,  which 
the  owner  would  not  receive  again,  I  travel  comfort- 
ably. My  soul  will  rejoice  in  the  home-coming.  Yet 
shall  I  never  forget  thee,  O  my  guide.  Till  the  Last 
Day  I  am  the  better  for  thee.  May  Allah  reward 
thee  for  thy  mercy  toward  me — thou  high  and 
learned,  I  the  meanest  in  the  land." 

"  O  kindest,  O  best,  O  most  patient  of  all  men 
living,"  cried  Shems-ud-din,  striving  to  raise  him. 

But  Zeyd  clove  to  the  dust,  praying : 

"  Bless  me,  O  light  from  Allah,  before  I  go.  A 
long,  a  learned  blessing,  O  my  master." 

Shems-ud-din  blessed  him  then  at  great  length. 
Knowing  the  weakness  of  his  poor  disciple,  he  used 
to  indulge  it  words  of  poetical  and  learned  use  which, 
for  Zeyd,  fell  straight  from  heaven. 

"  O  my  eyes !  O  too  great  glory !  O  my  soul," 
gasped  the  fellah,  moaning  and  wriggling  in  the 
depth  of  enjoyment. 

At  the  close  of  the  benediction,  Mas,  who  stood 
303 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

beating  off  flies  from  the  horse  of  Shems-ud-dln, 
cried : 

"  O  Zeyd,  thou  art  blest  indeed.  I  behold  that 
blessing  upon  thee,  a  robe  of  purple  embroidered  with 
gold  and  jewelry.  Henceforth  thou  art  not  like  the 
rest  of  us." 

Sobbing,  speechless  for  beatitude,  Zeyd  struggled 
to  his  knees.  He  seized  the  sheykh's  hand  and,  carry- 
ing it  to  his  lips,  rained  passionate  kisses  upon  it. 
Then,  starting  up,  he  ran  to  his  donkey,  bestrode  the 
same,  and,  plying  his  stick,  shambled  off  through  the 
grove. 

Shems-ud-dln,  as  he  watched  Zeyd's  form  recede, 
now  blooming  in  a  sun  ray,  now  fading  in  dense 
shadow,  was  not  distressed.  Time  was  when  he 
would  have  sorrowed  thus  to  part  with  the  kindest 
of  creatures.  But  now  he  saw  men  only  as  the  sun 
sees  them,  while  loving  them  for  the  love  of  God  who 
made  them. 

Attendant  on  the  beasts,  Mas  had  wandered  to 
a  farther  group  of  trees,  beneath  which  was  some 
growth  of  herbage. 

Over  Shems-ud-din's  Ijead  the  peep  of  sky  through 
the  branches  made  separate  sapphires  set  in  ebonwork. 
His  eyes  uplifted  in  dreamy  contemplation,  he  did 
not  see  Fatmeh  creeping  toward  him  round  the  an- 

304 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

cient  tree  trunk.  Only  when  she  took  his  hand  and 
pressed  it  to  her  forehead  did  he  wake  to  her  pres- 
ence with  him. 

"  What  ails  thee,  woman?  "  he  asked  in  dismay. 

"  O  hard  of  heart!  O  cruel!  "  she  whimpered. 
"Art  thou  not  lord  of  me?  Has  my  fancy  ever 
strayed  from  thy  goodliness  to  desire  another's? 
Now  Alia  is  dead,  what  am  I?  The  women  at  the 
spring  will  mock  me,  saying,  '  O  thing  despised,  alone 
in  his  house,  yet  unembraced.'  O  my  dear  lord,  O 
tree  of  sweet  fruit  shading  me,  could  I  tell  when  I 
joined  thy  harim,  to  wait  upon  thy  daughter,  that  by 
so  doing  I  should  render  my  widowhood  eternal  ?  I 
knew  thou  hadst  no  other,  save  me  and  that  very  old 
one  who  is  since  dead.  .  .  .  Let  not  the  offense  which 
I  committed  at  that  other  tree  stand  ever  in  thy  sight 
against  me.  May  Allah  blast  that  other  till  the  Last 
Day.  Died  not  my  soul  beneath  its  branches?  But 
this  is  a  good  tree,  of  shade  most  pleasant.  Ah,  put 
me  not  away,  O  lord  of  justice." 

Slowly  the  import  of  her  blubbering  reached 
Shems-ud-din's  intelligence;  and  he  saw  plainly  how, 
immersed  in  selfish  grief,  he  had  dealt  harshly  by  his 
servant.  Her  desires  were  natural  and  legitimate. 
She  was  now  alone  in  his  house.  He  sought  no  other 
woman. 

305 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  So  be  it,"  he  said.  "  Very  kind  hast  thou  been 
to  me  through  this  time  of  trouble.  When  the  days 
of  my  grief  are  accomplished,  if  Allah  spares  us,  thou 
shalt  have  thy  will." 

The  creature's  gladness  seemed  excessive  to  one 
for  whom  all  things  were  now  equal  under  heaven. 


In  the  wide  archway  of  his  own  house,  overlook- 
ing the  small  white  city  which  had  been  his  care  so 
many  years,  the  minaret  which  he  had  caused  to  be 
built,  and  the  yellow  hills  rolling  to  violet  in  the  dis- 
tance, Shems-ud-din  sat  on  a  morning  and  wrote  to 
his  brother  Milhem.  Behind  him,  in  the  shadow, 
knelt  Mas  employed  in  trimming  the  lamps  of  the 
house,  shaking  one  after  another  to  be  sure  it  had  oil 
enough.  The  sheykh  paused  often  before  recharging 
his  reed  to  gaze  out  over  the  sun-baked  land  and  smile, 
part  ruefully. 

"  After  inquiry  touching  thy  illustrious  health,  I 
submit  to  thee,  O  my  dear  brother,  that  my  son  Abd- 
ur-Rahman  does,  upon  mature  reflection,  elect  to  re- 
tire to  a  private  station  and  has  returned  to  this  little 
city,  to  the  house  of  me  his  father;  that  he  entreats 
thy  pardon  for  a  defection  which  must  bear  the  look 
of  ingratitude;  but  that,  in  excuse,  he  has  not  the 

306 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

strength  of  thee,  O  my  brother,  to  escape  corruption 
in  a  path  so  full  of  temptations.  Forget  not,  O  my 
dear,  how  his  childhood  was  spent  in  a  quiet  place, 
among  simple  folk,  far  from  all  those  seductions 
which  spring  from  too  much  luxury  and  the  inter- 
course with  foreigners  and  men  unsteadfast  in  the 
faith. 

"  Notwithstanding,  I  will  not  hide  from  thee  my 
own  lively  pleasure  in  this  end  to  his  deliberations, 
which  appears  to  me  the  right  one  in  the  sight  of 
Allah. 

"  Furthermore,  let  me  thank  thee  once  again  for 
thy  gracious  intervention  when  Allah  willed  that  I 
should  be  accused  falsely  in  El  Cuds,  whither  I  went 
last  spring,  on  an  evil  prompting,  to  subject  my  be- 
loved daughter,  then  very  ill,  to  the  treatment  of  a 
Frank  physician,  in  whose  house  she  died  very  peace- 
fully, the  praise  to  Allah.  Though  sad  for  the  loss 
of  my  daughter,  and  more  for  the  inordinate  affec- 
tion my  soul  bore  her,  which  conscience  tells  was  the 
cause  of  that  loss,  I  am  not  unhappy.  Thanks  to 
Allah !  Here  I  am  surrounded  by  friends  who  wish 
me  well.  A  woman,  long  a  servant  in  my  house  and 
attendant  on  my  little  Alia,  now  tends  to  the  comfort 
of  my  age,  and  lavishes  on  me  the  endearments  for 
which  her  sort  were  created.  Hassan  Agha,  our  old 

3°7 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

acquaintance,  was  felled  from  his  horse  and  wounded 
recently  in  a  conflict  with  certain  of  the  Bedu  who, 
harboring  a  grudge  against  him  for  some  wrong  he 
did  to  them  in  El  Cuds,  have  harried  us  these  three 
months  past — against  all  precedent,  for  their  time  of 
sojourn  here  is  the  winter — but  now  seem  gone  from 
the  land,  for  which  we  praise  Allah.  As  for  Hassan, 
thy  bounteous  grant  of  rifles  and  powder  has  done 
much  to  reconcile  him  to  my  son,  with  whom  he  quar- 
reled in  El  Cuds.  All  my  neighbors,  alike  Arab  and 
Circassian,  honored  my  son  with  a  great  reception  on 
his  arrival  yesterday  in  the  morning. 

"  And  now,  O  my  brother,  once  more  I  beseech 
thee  to  forgive  thy  brother  and  the  son  of  thy  brother, 
who  are  both  very  sensible  of  meriting  thy  most  just 
displeasure.  And  May  Allah  preserve  thee  always." 

This  letter,  when  folded  and  sealed,  was  in- 
trusted to  the  soldier  servant  of  Abd-ur-Rahman, 
who  was  obliged  to  set  out  that  day  on  his  return 
to  El  Cuds. 

In  less  than  a  month  it  was  answered.  A 
trooper  from  the  garrison  of  Esh-Sham,  calling  God 
and  his  horse  to  witness  that  he  had  ridden  day  and 
night  without  a  halt,  delivered  the  missive  to  Shems- 
ud-din  as  he  sat  in  the  entry  of  his  house  toward  sun- 
set. With  the  usual  courtesies,  it  ran : 

308 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

"  I  have  received  thy  honored  letter,  and  though 
I  grieve  much  for  the  loss  of  a  youth  whom  I  had 
come  to  regard  as  my  son  (a  thing  I  could  never  pro- 
cure of  my  own  body,  though  I  have  tried  many 
women  and  begotten  at  divers  times  no  less  than  six- 
teen daughters,  if  I  count  aright,  so  that  I  have  come 
to  hate  girl  children  as  a  deception,  and  utterly  fail  to 
comprehend  thy  infatuation  for  that  girl  who  died) , 
yet  I  will  not  disguise  from  thee  that  the  withdrawal 
of  the  young  one  has  done  me  good  in  my  position. 
It  is  but  policy  in  the  sovereign  to  look  askance  on 
the  posterity  of  men  of  note ;  and  that  custom  of  the 
Turks  is  wise  by  which  honors  descend  not  from 
father  to  son.  The  eyes  of  many  in  high  places  re- 
garded with  disfavor  my  fondness  for  Abd-ur-Rah- 
man ;  but  now,  an  old  man  without  a  sequel,  I  arouse 
no  hatred,  only  expectations.  What  am  I,  thus 
lonely,  but  a  kind  of  eunuch,  a  natural  and  unenviable 
appanage  of  sovereignty. 

"  I  rejoice  to  learn  in  what  love  and  esteem  thou 
art  held  by  all  who  know  thee.  As  for  me,  I  am  beset 
with  fears  and  hostile  ambitions.  Never  in  my  life 
have  I  inspired  sincere  affection,  save  only  in  thee,  O 
my  brother.  By  Allah,  the  image  of  your  little  town 
rises  tempting  now  in  my  mind,  though  in  the  days 
I  was  condemned  to  sojourn  there  I  deemed  it  Jehen- 

3°9 


THE    HOUSE    OF    ISLAM 

num.  It  is  because  of  our  love,  O  my  brother,  for 
the  sake  of  our  parting  there  at  daybreak  among  the 
rocks,  that  the  thought  of  it  now  allures  me.  I  am 
old  and  thou  art  old,  but  if  it  is  the  will  of  Allah  that 
I  fall  some  day  from  use,  as  may  well  betide — should 
my  life  then  be  spared  and  exile  satisfy  the  lust  of 
my  enemies- — I  shall  choose  for  place  of  banishment 
thy  little  town  beneath  the  hill  of  ruins,  and  count  it 
bliss  to  end  my  days  at  peace  in  the  house  of  my 
brother." 

When  Shems-ud-din  looked  up  from  the  writing, 
he  was  blind  with  crowded  visions  of  a  bygone  day. 
Out  of  the  evening  calm  he  looked  and  saw  the  vanity 
of  man's  endeavor,  from  least  to  greatest,  upon  the 
earth,  and  how  it  floats  on  God's  mercy  as  a  boat  on 
the  mighty  deep.  And  he  cried  from  his  soul : 

"  Allah  is  greatest!  " 

(i) 

THE    END 


310 


"A  TALE  OF  OLD  EGYPT  AND  LITTLE  OLD  NEW  YORK." 


The  False  Gods. 

By  GEORGE  HORACE  LORIMER,  author  of  "Let- 
ters from  a  Self-made  Merchant  to  His  Son."  Col- 
ored Inlay  on  cover,  full-page  drawings,  head  and 
tail  pieces,  and  many  decorations  throughout,  by 
J.  C.  Leyendecker.  $1.25. 

The  experiences  of  a  "  yellow "  newspaper  reporter 
who  starts  out  to  investigate  the  workings  of  a  society  of 
Egyptologists  and  discovers  a  baffling,  bewildering  mystery. 

"  It  has  thrills.     Every  one  will  enjoy  it." 

— Brooklyn  Eagle. 

"  The  book  teems  with  delightful  and  subtle  humor." 

— Oregon  Journal. 

"  A  very  ingenious  and  original  tale." 

— Chicago  Record-Herald. 

"  A  clever  extravaganza,  pleasantly  satirical  of  romantic 
fiction  and  red-eyed  journalism." — Springfield  Republican. 

"  Mr.  Lorimer  is  merrily  satirical  at  the  expense  of  the 
theosophy  cult  and  'yellow  journalism,'  especially  the 
latter." — Pitisburg  Chronicle-  Telegraph. 

"  There  is  a  remarkable  weirdness  and  mystery  in  the 
tale  of  'The  False  Gods,'  and  it  is  good  for  a  number  of 
delicious  little  shivers  and  thrills." — Chicago  Daily  News. 

D.     APPLETON     AND     COMPANY,     NEW     YORK. 


A  GREAT  FRENCH  DETECTIVE'S  ADVENTURES* 

The  Triumphs  of  Eugene  Valmont. 

By  ROBERT  BARR,  author  of  "The  Midst  of 
Alarms,"  etc.     Illustrated.     $1.50. 

"  The  most  marvellous  series  of  detective  adventures 
written  in  many  a  day." — St.  Louis  Republic. 

"Much  more  ingenious  than  the  Sherlock  Holmes 
tales." — New  York  Sun. 

"Ingenious  and  amusing." — Outlook. 

"  Detective  adventures  and  good  ones,  too,  with  the 
addition  of  an  element  usually  lacking  in  such  stories — 
humor." — Kansas  City  Star. 

"In  many  respects  far  superior  in  ingenuity  and  vigor 
to  any  one  of  the  many  adventures  of  Sherlock  Holmes." 

— Boston  Transcript. 

"Valmont  is  a  detective  of  an  entirely  new  stripe,  for 
he  doesn't  pose  as  omnipotent,  and  he  tells  of  his  failures 
quite  as  placidly  as  of  his  great  triumphs.  One  gets  to  like 
him  immensely  before  the  book  is  half  over." 

— Cleveland  Leader. 

"  A  delightfully  entertaining  book,  as  different  from  the 
ordinary,  or  extraordinary,  detective  story  as  possible,  and 
is  all  the  more  interesting  for  that  reason." 

— Brooklyn  Eagle. 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  NEW  YORK. 


By  the  Author  of  "THE  SILENCE  OF  DEAN  MAITLAND." 

The  Great  Refusal. 

By  MAXWELL  GRAY.     Cloth,  $1.50. 

"  The  Great  Refusal "  is  the  refusal  of  the  son, 
a  man  of  mind,  to  continue  in  the  career  mapped 
out  for  him  by  the  father,  a  man  of  money.  The 
whole  theme  of  the  novel  is  whether  wealth  is  to 
be  a  means  of  luxury  or  a  stepping-stone  to  social 
service  and  the  alleviation  of  distress. 

"  It  is  a  story  full  of  contrast  and  color,  a  brilliant 
picture." — Brooklyn  Eagle. 

"  The  lesson  of  the  book  is  unmistakable,  the  atmos- 
phere pleasing,  the  style  always  graceful  and  sometimes 
poetic.  There  is  no  lack  of  varied,  effective  action,  and 
many  of  the  conversations  are  noteworthy." — Chicago 
Record-  Herald. 

"  When  Maxwell  Gray  gave  to  the  world  the  celebrated 
novel  'The  Silence  of  Dean  Maitland,'  critics  wondered 
if  such  a  gifted  writer  would  one  day  strike  a  purer,  clearer 
note.  She  has  just  done  so  in  issuing  'The  Great  Re- 
fusal,' a  novel  of  self-sacrifice.  No  more  uplifting  book 
of  its  kind  has  appeared  since  Besant's  'All  Sorts  and 
Conditions  of  Men '  emphasized  the  lesson  that  we  do  not 
live  only  for  ourselves  and  that  we  can  fulfill  a  high  ideal 
in  bettering  the  condition  of  our  fellow-men." — Portland 
Oregonian. 

D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY,     NEW    YORK. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF  « NANCY  STAIR" 


All  for  the  Love  of  a  Lady. 

By  ELINOR   MACARTNEY  LANE.      Illustrated 
by  Arthur  Becher  and  Fred  Richardson.     $1.25. 

A  sweet  and  dainty  story  of  a  lady  who  lived  in 
Scotland  in  the  days  when  intrigues  and  treasons  were  as 
common  as  love  itself  and  as  prevalent. 

"  A  fine  piece  of  work." — Salt  Lake  Tribune. 

"  As  entertaining  as  '  Nancy  Stair.' " — Fort  Worth  Record. 

"  Full  of  the  true  spirit  of  romance." — Chicago  Inter-Ocean. 

"  Will  have  to  its  credit  the  conquest  of  thousands  of  hearts,  for  it  is 
one  of  the  sweetest  told  tales  of  the  period." —  Troy  Times. 

"  Told  with  a  winning  interest  of  recital  that  has  had  no  counterpart 
since  '  Monsieur  Beaucaire.' " —  Wilmington  Every  Evening. 

The  real  heroes  of  the  book  are  two  little  boys.  Here 
is  what  the  press  thinks  of  them : 

"  Two  of  the  most  lovable  children  in  literature." 

— Albany  Times-Union. 

"  The  most  attractive  brave  young  scamps  who  have  appeared  in 
recent  literature." — New  York  World. 

"  They  are  most  charming  and  quaint  little  creatures,  likely  to  live  in 
the  memory." — Boston  Transcript. 

,  "  Two  of  the  most  interesting  characters  in  recent  fiction." 

— Pittsburg  Chronicle-  Telegraph. 

"Two  unusually  delightful  little  boys." — Houston  Post. 

"One  breathes  the  atmosphere  of  romance,  of  turret  windows  and 
ivy-clad  castles,  of  lute  singing  and  witch  spells,  of  a  princely  lover 
riding  to  the  aid  of  his  lady,  of  two  loyal  little  knights  who  smoothed 
the  path  of  true  love.  He  who  is  tired  of  modern  prosing  should  ven- 
ture a  little  journey  with  '  The  Two '  to  the  land  of  ye  olden  time." 

— Louisville  Courier  Journal. 

D.     APPLETON     AND     COMPANY,     NEW     YORK. 


14  A  beautiful  romance  of  the  days  of  Robert  Burns** 

Nancy  Stair. 

A  Novel.  By  ELINOR  MACARTNEY  LANE,  author 
of  "  Mills  of  God."  Illustrated.  I2mo.  Cloth,  $1.50. 

"  With  very  much  the  grace  and  charm  of  Robert  Louis 
Stevenson,  the  author  of  '  The  Life  of  Nancy  Stair '  com- 
bines unusual  gifts  of  narrative,  characterization,  color,  and 
humor.  She  has  also  delicacy,  dramatic  quality,  and  that 
rare  gift — historic  imagination. 

"  *  The  Life  of  Nancy  Stair '  is  interesting  from  the  first 
sentence  to  the  last ;  the  characters  are  vital  and  are,  also, 
most  entertaining  company;  the  denouement  unexpected 
and  picturesque  and  cleverly  led  up  to  from  one  of  the 
earliest  chapters;  the  story  moves  swiftly  and  without  a 
hitch.  Robert  Burns  is  neither  idealized  nor  caricatured  ; 
Sandy,  Jock,  Pitcairn,  Danvers  Carmichael,  and  the  Duke 
of  Borthewicke  are  admirably  relieved  against  each  other, 
and  Nancy  herself  as  irresistible  as  she  is  natural.  To  be 
sure,  she  is  a  wonderful  child,  but  then  she  manages  to 
make  you  believe  she  was  a  real  one.  Indeed,  reality  and 
naturalness  are  two  of  the  charms  of  a  story  that  both 
reaches  the  heart  and  engages  the  mind,  and  which  can 
scarcely  fail  to  make  for  itself  a  large  audience.  A  great 
deal  of  delightful  talk  and  interesting  incidents  are  used  for 
the  development  of  the  story.  Whoever  reads  it  will  advise 
everybody  he  knows  to  read  it ;  and  those  who  do  not  care 
for  its  literary  quality  cannot  escape  the  interest  of  a  love-- 
story  full  of  incident  and  atmosphere." 

M  Powerfully  and  attractively  written." — Pittsburg  Post. 
"  A  story  best  described  with  the  word  *  charming.'  ** 

—  Washington  Post. 

D.    APPLETON    AND    COMPANY,    NEW    YORK. 


A  POWERFUL  NEW  NOVEL  BY  GEORGE  MOORE. 


"  George  Moore  is  the  greatest  literary  artist  <who  has  struck 
the  cords  of  English  since  Thackeray." 

— Prof.  HARRY  THURSTON  PECK. 

The  Lake. 

Cloth,  $1.50.      . 

"  *  The  Lake  '  is  a  work  of  art,  a  prose  poem  embroidered  in  psycho- 
logical colors,  a  mirror  of  realism  reflecting  the  soul  struggle  of  the 
priest  who  by  a  slow  intellectual  process  is  brought  face  to  face  with  the 
meaning  of  life.  It  is  as  far  above  the  average  fiction  of  the  hour  as 
the  sun-kissed  mountain  peaks  are  above  the  hum-drum  valleys." 

— St.  Paul  Pioneer-Press. 

"  The  style  has  the  simplicity  and  transparency  that  betoken  the 
accomplished  craftsman  in  words  and  the  author's  feeling  for  nature  is 
expressed  as  admirably  as  his  feelings  for  art  and  life.  We  doubt  if 
Mr.  Moore  has  ever  done  a  better  piece  of  writing." — The  Dial. 

"  This  novel  with  its  delicate  symbolism,  its  original  style  of  presen- 
tation, its  gray-green  coloring,  and  its  subtle  psychologizing,  recalls  a 
modern  symphonic  poem.  The  style  is  most  musical,  fitting  the  theme 
glove-like.  Event  glides  into  event  without  a  jar  ;  the  illusion  is  never 
shivered  by  awkward  chapter-ends  or  conventional  sequences  of  action. 
The  writer  is  a  master  of  his  material  as  well  as  a  prober  of  the  human 
heart." — JAMES  HUNEKER  in  the  New  York  Times. 

BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR. 

Evelyn  Innes. 

Cloth,  $1.50. 

"The  marvelously  artistic  analysis  of  the  inner  life  of  this  remark- 
able woman  exercises  a  peculiar  fascination  for  cultivated  people.  .  .  . 
It  seems  as  if  one  could  pass  over  no  single  sentence  without  losing 
something.  .  .  .  The  appeal  of  the  book  is  to  the  class  of  people  best 
worth  writing  for,  cultivated,  intellectual  people,  who  can  appreciate 
something  better  than  the  commonplace  stories  which  invariably  come 
out  right.  Its  literary  quality  is  high  ;  there  are  very  fine  things  about 
it,  and  one  feels  that  '  Evelyn  Innes'  is  the  work  of  a  master." 

— Boston  Herald. 

D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY,  NEW  YORK. 


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